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Glite Dictionary
to stifle innovation

to stifle innovation

2 6.8
Prevent new ideas and methods from growing in a company or group
  • phrasal verb
  • /ˈstaɪfəl ɪnəˈveɪʃən/
translation icon : sofocar la innovación
  • Overly strict regulations can stifle innovation by discouraging companies from trying new methods.
  • regulation that stifles innovation

So I don't think it's quite a case of full monopolistic dominance that makes that totally stifles innovation.

Examples

  • Too much regulation stifles innovation, limits creativity, and so we think this should be the foremost endeavour of politicians: to eliminate regulations and not to create them.

    Brexit: The Movie (2016)

  • If you don't think barriers to market entry can stifle innovation, can you explain why?

    Blog text (32)

  • Does the free market stifle innovation?

    Blog text (32)

  • We can't stifle innovation in our business.

  • No society, no market economy, has ever prospered by trying to stifle innovation.

    Kipchoge: The Last Milestone (2021)

  • I do wonder if the pack mentality I have seen in many women stifles innovation.

    Blog text (26)

  • A top-down organization can stifle innovation by committee, layers of approval, and 'not my idea' way of thinking.

    Blog text (31)

  • Representatives of such companies claim that these heightened regulations will stifle innovation and delay patients' access to new and improved medical devices.

    Blog text (5)

  • The Byzantine tax and regulatory regimes are stifling innovation and growth.

    Blog text (14)

  • Through Republican and Democratic administrations, history shows that Washington's efforts to create a "national energy policy" have instead stifled innovation and growth with poorly thought-out regulations and with schemes that try to pick winners and losers in the market.

    Blog text (21)

Synonyms

to thwart
vsto stifle innovation
87 7.4

To stop someone from doing what they want

is about stopping development of new creative methods rather than blocking personal plans
to strangle
vsto stifle innovation
33 6.7

To limit growth or activity so it cannot continue

is used more for stopping the development of new creative methods than for feelings
to squelch
vsto stifle innovation
11 7.8

Completely stop protests or criticism

targets blocking new creative methods and ideas rather than crushing general opposition
to suffocate someone's creativity
vsto stifle innovation
7.2

Stop someone from thinking of new ideas

focuses on preventing new creative methods and ideas rather than one person's output
to lobotomize creativity
vsto stifle innovation
  • Informal
9.9

To stop someone from thinking of new ideas

damages creativity deeply, whereas the other phrase targets new methods development

Surface Forms

stifle innovation infinitive
stifled innovation past
stifled innovation past participle
stifling innovation present participle
stifles innovation third person singular

Morphology

stifle + innovation

The meaning 'to suppress or prevent the development of new and creative ideas' is directly derivable from combining 'stifle' (to hold back or suppress) with 'innovation' (creation/introduction of something new). This verb + noun collocation follows a transparent compositional pattern common across languages and would be understandable to a B1 learner who knows both constituent words.

Etymology

Stifle innovation paints a simple picture: stifle means to smother or choke, and innovation means new ideas. So, the image of smothering explains why stifle innovation means 'to stop new ideas'.