as in to strangle
to cause (someone) to stop breathing and often to become unconscious and die
The murder victim was asphyxiated.
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Recent Examples of asphyxiate
Over the past five years alone, people have been crushed, asphyxiated, struck by mooring lines, ensnared in equipment, fallen overboard or otherwise killed or injured on Synergy’s watch, USA TODAY found.
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USA TODAY, 25 Sep. 2024
That protocol forbids its signatories to use asphyxiating gas on one another (without explicitly banning its use against a non-party) although, at the same time, demands its members’ consent that the prohibition on asphyxiating gases be universally binding.
—Richard Price, Foreign Affairs, 5 Sep. 2013
Zoom in: Infected poultry has to be culled by asphyxiating the birds.
—Tina Reed, Axios, 17 July 2024
Two milligrams of fentanyl — think 10 grains of salt — would asphyxiate a teen in his bed.
—Cheri Lucas Rowlands, Longreads, 25 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for asphyxiate 
USA TODAY, 25 Sep. 2024
That protocol forbids its signatories to use asphyxiating gas on one another (without explicitly banning its use against a non-party) although, at the same time, demands its members’ consent that the prohibition on asphyxiating gases be universally binding.
—Richard Price, Foreign Affairs, 5 Sep. 2013
Zoom in: Infected poultry has to be culled by asphyxiating the birds.
—Tina Reed, Axios, 17 July 2024
Two milligrams of fentanyl — think 10 grains of salt — would asphyxiate a teen in his bed.
—Cheri Lucas Rowlands, Longreads, 25 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for asphyxiate
Thesaurus Entries Near asphyxiate
Cite this Entry
“Asphyxiate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/asphyxiate. Accessed 17 Dec. 2024.
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