smothered

• Décrit quelque chose qui est entièrement recouvert ou caché, souvent par une épaisse couche d'une autre substance, ou qui est étouffé, oppressé ou réprimé.

Describes something that is covered or concealed completely, often with a thick layer of something else.

1. Covered completelyB1informal

   Covered entirely with a substance, often food or liquid.

   recouvert entièrement

   • The steak was smothered in a rich mushroom sauce.
   • She ordered pancakes smothered in maple syrup.
   • The cake was smothered with thick chocolate frosting.

   Synonymesblanketedcoatedcovereddrenchedsaturated

   Antonymesbareexposeduncovered

2. Suppressed or stifledB2formal

   Restrained or prevented from being expressed or developing.

   étouffé, réprimé

   • His anger was smothered by a forced smile.
   • The rebellion was smothered before it could grow.
   • She felt smothered by the constant attention from her parents.

   Synonymesdeadenedmuffledquelledrepressedstifledstrangledsuppressed

   Antonymesairedexpressedventedvoiced

3. Killed by lack of airB2formal

   Killed by being prevented from breathing, often by covering the mouth and nose.

   étouffé

   • The victim was smothered with a pillow.
   • He was smothered to death in his sleep.
   • The baby was accidentally smothered by the heavy blanket.

   Synonymesasphyxiatedchokedstifled

• Verbe désignant l'action de recouvrir entièrement quelque chose, de réprimer ou d'étouffer, ou encore de priver d'air.

A verb used to indicate the act of covering something completely, suppressing or stifling something, or depriving of air.

1. Envelop completelyB2formal

   To cover something entirely, often with a thick layer or substance.

   envelopper complètement

   • She smothered the cake with a thick layer of chocolate frosting.
   • The valley was smothered in a dense fog.
   • He smothered his face in a soft pillow.

   Synonymesblanketcoatcoverengulfenvelopoverlayshroudwrap

   Antonymesexposerevealuncover

2. Deprive of oxygen and prevent from breathingB2formal

   To kill or cause unconsciousness by stopping someone from breathing, often by covering the mouth and nose.

   étouffer (priver d'oxygène)

   • The villain tried to smother the hero with a pillow.
   • The smoke was so thick it nearly smothered the trapped miners.
   • The mother smothered her baby accidentally while sleeping.

   Synonymesasphyxiatechokestiflesuffocate

3. Conceal or hideC1formal

   To suppress or keep something from being expressed or known.

   étouffer (dissimuler)

   • He tried to smother his anger during the argument.
   • The government attempted to smother the scandal.
   • She smothered a laugh during the serious meeting.

   Synonymesconcealcurbhidemufflerepressrestrainstiflesuppress

   Antonymesdisclosedivulgeexposereveal

4. Form an impenetrable cover overC1formal

   To cover something so completely that nothing can get through.

   couvrir hermétiquement

   • The thick vines smothered the old stone wall.
   • The city was smothered by a blanket of smog.
   • The weeds smothered the flowers in the garden.

   Synonymesblanketcoverenvelopoverlayshroud

   Antonymesexposerevealuncover

5. Deprive of the oxygen necessary for combustionB2formal

   To extinguish a fire by cutting off its oxygen supply.

   Étouffer (un feu)

   • Use a fire blanket to smother the flames.
   • The firefighters smothered the blaze with foam.
   • He smothered the campfire with sand before leaving.

   Synonymeschokedouseextinguishquenchsnuff outstiflesuffocate

   Antonymesfuelignitekindlelight