1
as in to strangle
to be or cause to be killed by lack of breathable air
children should never play inside discarded appliances because they could become trapped and smother
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to stifle
to refrain from openly showing or uttering
he quickly smothered his inappropriate laughter at the funeral ceremony
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to bury
to defeat by a large margin
the soccer team smothered their first few opponents in the championships, but lost narrowly in the final round
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of smother
Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 17 Apr. 2025
To paraphrase the historian Simon Schama, if Thatcher was the stern nanny who gave Brits their medicine, Diana was the loving mother who smothered them in tactile affection.
—Air Mail, 10 May 2025
Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 14 Apr. 2025
Fears of irradiation from antennas threaten to smother smart meters in the crib
G. Pascal Zachary
24 Jun 2011
6 min read
G. Pascal Zachary researches and writes about the past, present, and future of technological change.
—IEEE Spectrum, 24 June 2011
See All Example Sentences for smother
Verb
Don’t ditch those cardboard boxes; instead, put them to use in your garden, smothering out weeds, creating perfectly prepared soil, and composting in the process.
—Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 17 Apr. 2025
To paraphrase the historian Simon Schama, if Thatcher was the stern nanny who gave Brits their medicine, Diana was the loving mother who smothered them in tactile affection.
—Air Mail, 10 May 2025
Noun
Stout recommends using a thick layer of mulch, particularly spoiled hay or straw, to smother weeds, retain moisture, and enrich the soil.
—Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 14 Apr. 2025
Fears of irradiation from antennas threaten to smother smart meters in the crib
G. Pascal Zachary
24 Jun 2011
6 min read
G. Pascal Zachary researches and writes about the past, present, and future of technological change.
—IEEE Spectrum, 24 June 2011
See All Example Sentences for smother
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smother
Verb
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According to Maggi, someone called police about 10:40 a.m. to report a man was strangling a woman in the area of Normal Avenue just west of Parks Avenue.—
Kelly Davis,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
27 May 2025
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Later that evening, the man strangles her in bed and Fuki, through voiceover, considers her own death.—
Lovia Gyarkye,
HollywoodReporter,
17 May 2025
Verb
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This approach, while designed for mass instruction, often stifles the very curiosity that makes learning exciting.—
Cornelia C. Walther,
Forbes.com,
23 May 2025
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Huawei has become the face of China’s tech ambitions — and of U.S. attempts to stifle them.—
Shannon Carroll,
Quartz,
22 May 2025
Verb
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The authority said its preliminary assessment is that three excavators and six trucks were buried by the landslide.—
Shane Croucher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 May 2025
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Years later, the two had a poolside sit-down at a Los Angeles hotel to bury the hatchet and the two-hour conversation still wasn’t enough to patch things up, Francesa said.—
Mark Morales,
CNN Money,
29 May 2025
Noun
-
Royals run out of steam The Royals have a perplexing offense.—
Jaylon Thompson,
Kansas City Star,
31 May 2025
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By the time the 2026 World Cup was partially awarded to Canada that June, TFC had all but run out of steam in the aftermath of that Champions League run.—
Joshua Kloke,
New York Times,
30 May 2025
Verb
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Many of these artisans — traditionally known for their boldness and innovation — are finding ways to maintain quality and brand integrity without asking loyal customers to choke on the price.—
Gretchen Eichenberg,
FOXNews.com,
30 May 2025
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Chia seed water can be a choking hazard, so make sure the seeds are thoroughly soaked to prevent choking.—
Morgan Pearson,
Verywell Health,
26 May 2025
Verb
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Eight engines, three water tenders, two dozers and one hand crew are working to suppress the fire.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
26 May 2025
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And in 1955, the McGee Fire burned through much of Converse Basin, consuming second-growth sequoias and demonstrating the dangers of suppressing all fires.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
24 May 2025
Verb
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The odds remain against them — only 16.1% of teams have overcome a 3-2 deficit in NBA playoff history — but the Knicks are coming off their best all-around performance of the series.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
30 May 2025
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Learning how to overcome your own anxiety is the first step to helping your kids do the same, said Robbins.—
Ashton Jackson,
CNBC,
30 May 2025
Noun
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The rain and clouds will result in even cooler temperatures.—
Robert A. Cronkleton,
Kansas City Star,
24 May 2025
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The resulting clouds can act as insulating layers in the atmosphere, often helping to reduce surface temperatures and also the extent of sea ice coverage around Antarctica.—
Doyle Rice,
USA Today,
24 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Smother.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smother. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.
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