Smother

/ˈsməðər/ · verb

Meaning

(transitive) To suffocate; stifle; obstruct, more or less completely, the respiration of something or someone..

Definitions by Sense

1. (transitive) To suffocate; stifle; obstruct, more or less completely, the respiration of something or someone.
2. (transitive) To extinguish or deaden, as fire, by covering, overlaying, or otherwise excluding the air.
3. (transitive) To reduce to a low degree of vigor or activity; suppress or do away with; extinguish
4. (transitive, cooking) To cook in a close dish.
5. (transitive) To daub or smear.
6. (intransitive) To be suffocated.
7. (intransitive) To breathe with great difficulty by reason of smoke, dust, close covering or wrapping, or the like.
8. (intransitive, of a fire) to burn very slowly for want of air; smolder.

Example Sentences

He smothered her by pressing his hand over her mouth.

But I am Pestilence;—hither and thither I flit about, that I may slay and smother;— All lips which I have kissed must surely wither, But Death’s—if thou art he, we’ll go to work together!

[…] he dashes to his destination at such a speed that when he stops the horse half smothers him in a cloud of steam. "Unbear him half a moment to freshen him up, and I'll be back."

The awfulest thing was the silence; there wasn't a sound but the screaking of the saddles, the measured tramplings, and the sneezing of the horses, afflicted by the smothering dust-clouds which they kicked up.

to smother a fire with ashes

The committee's report was smothered.

beefsteak smothered with onions

And I keep quite a lot of it around, especially chocolate-covered almonds and Trader Joes minipretzels smothered in dark chocolate.

Synonyms for smother

Antonyms for smother

Related Words

Word Forms

• smothers
• smothering
• smothered
• smoother

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

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