stifle

1 of 2

verb

sti·​fle ˈstī-fəl 

stifled; stifling ˈstī-f(ə-)liŋ 

transitive verb

1

a

: to withhold from circulation or expression

stifled our anger

b

: to cut off (the voice, the breath, etc.)

c

: deter, discourage

2

a(1)

: muffle

(2)

: smother

b

: to kill by depriving of oxygen : suffocate

intransitive verb

: to be or become unable to breathe easily

stifling in the heat

stifler

ˈstī-f(ə-)lər 

noun

stiflingly

ˈstī-f(ə-)liŋ-lē 

adverb

stifle

2 of 2

noun

: the joint next above the hock in the hind leg of a quadruped (such as a horse or dog) corresponding to the human knee see horse illustration

Synonyms

Verb

• choke
• smother
• strangle
• suffocate

Examples of stifle in a Sentence

Verb

trying to stifle a cry

I had to stifle the desire to yell “Stop!”.

Students at the school are stifled by the pressure to score high on tests.

Too many regulations stifle innovation.

something that stifles the growth of the plant

I wish we could go outside instead of stifling in this tiny room.

He was almost stifled by the smoke.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Bureaucracy has also stifled innovation even when its military utility is obvious. —Mitch McConnell, Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2024

Leaders who avoid conflict breed mediocrity and stifle innovation and creativity. —Expert Panel®, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024

Guard Mookie Blaylock leads Oklahoma to an NCAA-record 33 steals with 13 in a 152-84 victory over Centenary. 1990 — Connecticut uses a stifling press and quickness to jump to a 32-0 lead en route to an 85-32 victory over New Hampshire. —Iliana Limón Romero, Los Angeles Times, 12 Dec. 2024

But efforts to stifle him only prompted Williamson to pioneer new ways of marketing white suffering, including dressing as a Delaware Indian and singing war songs that threatened Scottish shipping merchants. —Gunther Peck / Made By History, TIME, 12 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

alteration of Middle English stuflen

Noun

Middle English

First Known Use

Verb

1513, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2b

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

stifle

verb

sti·​fle

ˈstī-fəl

stifled; stifling

-f(ə-)liŋ

1

: to kill by depriving of or die from lack of oxygen or air : smother

2

: to keep in check by deliberate effort : repress

trying to stifle a sneeze

stiflingly

-f(ə-)liŋ-lē

adverb

Medical Definition

stifle

noun

sti·​fle ˈstī-fəl 

: the joint next above the hock in the hind leg of a quadruped (as a horse) corresponding to the knee in humans