Transcription
-
- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- UK Pronunciation
- UK IPA
-
- [stahy-fling]
- /ˈstaɪ flɪŋ/
- /ˈstaɪ.fl̩.ɪŋ/
-
- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
-
- [stahy-fling]
- /ˈstaɪ flɪŋ/
Definitions of stifling word
- adjective stifling suffocating; oppressively close: the stifling atmosphere of the cavern. 1
- verb with object stifling to quell, crush, or end by force: to stifle a revolt; to stifle free expression. 1
- verb with object stifling to suppress, curb, or withhold: to stifle a yawn. 1
- verb with object stifling to kill by impeding respiration; smother. 1
- verb without object stifling to suffer from difficulty in breathing, as in a close atmosphere. 1
- verb without object stifling to become stifled or suffocated. 1
Information block about the term
Origin of stifling
First appearance:
before 1550 One of the 31% oldest English words
First recorded in 1550-60; stifle1 + -ing2
Historical Comparancy
Parts of speech for Stifling
noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
stifling popularity
A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 83% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
This word is included in each student's vocabulary. Most likely there is at least one movie with this word in the title.
stifling usage trend in Literature
This diagram is provided by Google Ngram ViewerSynonyms for stifling
adj stifling
- airless — If a place is airless, there is no fresh air in it.
- austral — of or coming from the south
- choky — involving, caused by, or causing choking
- close — When you close something such as a door or lid or when it closes, it moves so that a hole, gap, or opening is covered.
- heavy — of great weight; hard to lift or carry: a heavy load.
noun stifling
- asphyxiation — Asphyxiation is a lack of oxygen in blood, which causes suffocation.
adjective stifling
- claustrophobic — You describe a place or situation as claustrophobic when it makes you feel uncomfortable and unhappy because you are enclosed or restricted.
- deadening — A deadening situation destroys people's enthusiasm and imagination.
- hot — having or giving off heat; having a high temperature: a hot fire; hot coffee.
- inhibiting — to restrain, hinder, arrest, or check (an action, impulse, etc.).
- muffling — Present participle of muffle.
Antonyms for stifling
adjective stifling
- liberating — That serves to liberate, especially to free the mind to accept new ideas.
Top questions with stifling
- what does stifling mean?
- how to spell stifling?
- what is stifling?
- what does the word stifling mean?
- what is the meaning of stifling?
See also
Matching words
- Words starting with s
- Words starting with st
- Words starting with sti
- Words starting with stif
- Words starting with stifl
- Words starting with stifli
- Words starting with stiflin
- Words starting with stifling