Smother

Quick meaning: Smother is a verb meaning (transitive) To suffocate; stifle; obstruct, more or less completely, the respiration of something or someone.

Meaning

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

More Meanings

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

Example Sentences

to smother a fire with ashes

beefsteak smothered with onions

The committee's report was smothered.

He smothered her by pressing his hand over her mouth.

Word Forms

• smothers
• smothering
• smothered
• smoother

Synonyms for smother

Depending on context, synonyms include suffocate, choke, stifle, cover up, conceal, hide.

Antonyms for smother

Common opposites include ventilate, release.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include stifle, asphyxiate, suffocate, clutter, muffle, muddle.

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