stifling
Noun · AdjectiveUS[stahy-fling]/ˈstaɪflɪŋ/2–3 syllablesalso [stahy-fuh-ling] /ˈstaɪfəlɪŋ/
Open English WordNet
Noun (1)
- forceful prevention; putting down by power or authority“the suppression of heresy”“the quelling of the rebellion”“the stifling of all dissent”Synonyms: suppressioncrushingquellingType of prevention, barKinds crackdown
Adjective (1)
- characterized by oppressive heat and humidity“the summer was sultry and oppressive”“the stifling atmosphere”“the sulfurous atmosphere preceding a thunderstorm”Synonyms: sultrysulfuroussulphurousOpposite coldSimilar hot
Word of the day · Oct 17About this word
ephemeranoun
What does it mean? Question 1 of today’s quiz
Webster's Dictionary (1913)
“stifling” is listed under Stifle.
Sti′fle transitive verb [past tense & past participle Stifled; present participle & verbal noun Stifling.]
Origin: Freq. of OE. stif stiff; cf. Icel. stīfla to dam up.
1. To stop the breath of by crowding something into the windpipe, or introducing an irrespirable substance into the lungs; to choke; to suffocate; to cause the death of by such means; as, to stifle one with smoke or dust.
Stifled with kisses, a sweet death he dies.— John Dryden
I took my leave, being half stifled with the closeness of the room.— Jonathan Swift
2. To stop; to extinguish; to deaden; to quench; as, to stifle the breath; to stifle a fire or flame.
Bodies... stifle in themselves the rays which they do not reflect or transmit.— Sir Isaac Newton
3. To suppress the manifestation or report of; to smother; to conceal from public knowledge; as, to stifle a story; to stifle passion.
I desire only to have things fairly represented as they really are; no evidence smothered or stifled.— Daniel Waterland
Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54