smothering

• Qualifie une action ou une sensation qui étouffe ou oppresse quelqu'un ou quelque chose, souvent par un excès de soins, d'attention ou de chaleur.

Describes an action or feeling that involves overwhelming or suffocating someone or something, often with excessive care, attention, or heat.

1. Causing difficulty in breathingB2formal

   Describes an environment or situation that makes it hard to breathe, often due to lack of fresh air, excessive heat, or a heavy atmosphere.

   étouffant

   • The smothering heat of the desert made travel impossible.
   • The room had a smothering atmosphere, thick with smoke and humidity.
   • He felt a smothering sensation as the crowd pressed in around him.

   Synonymesairlesscloseheavyoppressivestiflingstuffysuffocating

   Antonymesairybreezyventilated

2. Overwhelming or oppressiveB2informal

   Describes something that feels restrictive, suffocating, or overly controlling, often in a metaphorical sense.

   étouffant, oppressant

   • She found his constant attention smothering and needed space.
   • The smothering bureaucracy made it impossible to get anything done.
   • He escaped the smothering expectations of his family to travel the world.

   Synonymeschokingclaustrophobiccontrollingoppressiveoverwhelmingrestrictivestiflingsuffocating

   Antonymesairyfreeingrefreshing

• 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