suffocate

A verb used to indicate the act of dying or causing someone to die due to lack of air, or being unable to breathe freely.

ruГлагол, используемый для обозначения действия умирания или причинения смерти кому-либо из-за нехватки воздуха или невозможности свободно дышать.esVerbo que se usa para referirse a morir o causar la muerte de alguien por falta de aire o por no poder respirar libremente.frVerbe désignant le fait de mourir ou de faire mourir quelqu'un par manque d'air ou impossibilité de respirer librement, ou encore d'empêcher la respiration.deVerb, das das Sterben oder das Verursachen des Todes durch Luftmangel oder Unfähigkeit frei zu atmen bezeichnet.ptVerbo usado para indicar morrer ou causar a morte de alguém por falta de ar ou pela impossibilidade de respirar livremente.zh动词，表示因缺氧或无法自由呼吸而死亡，或使某人因此窒息而死。arفعل يُستخدم للدلالة على الموت أو إماتة شخص آخر بسبب نقص الهواء أو تعذّر التنفس بحرية.

1. Deprive of oxygen B2 formal

   To cause someone or something to die by preventing them from breathing air.

   • The smoke from the fire nearly suffocated the trapped family.
   • He was suffocated by the thick plastic bag over his head.
   • The victim was suffocated with a pillow.

   ruЗадушитьesAsfixiarfrÉtouffer (priver d'oxygène)deErsticken lassenptSufocarzh使窒息arخَنَقَ

   同义词: asphyxiatechokesmotherstifle

   反义词: aerateoxygenateventilate

2. Obstruct breathing B2 formal

   To impair or block the respiration of someone or something.

   • The tight collar was suffocating him.
   • The fumes in the room suffocated the workers.
   • The heavy blanket suffocated the child.

   ruЗатруднять дыханиеesAsfixiarfrÉtouffer (obstruer la respiration)deAtem behindernptObstruir a respiraçãozh使窒息arخَنْق

   同义词: asphyxiatechokesmotherstiflestranglethrottle

3. Feel stifled or suppressed B2 informal

   To become mentally or emotionally stifled, suppressed, or restricted.

   • She felt suffocated by the strict rules at home.
   • His creativity suffocated under the pressure of deadlines.
   • The bureaucracy suffocates any new ideas.

   ruЧувствовать себя подавленнымesSentirse sofocado o reprimidofrétouffer (sens moral/psychologique)deSich erstickt fühlenptSentir-se sufocadozh感到压抑arالشعور بالاختناق أو الكبت

   同义词: chokesmotherstifle

   反义词: breatheflourishthrive

4. Suppress development C1 formal

   To suppress the development, creativity, or imagination of someone or something.

   • The rigid education system suffocates students' natural curiosity.
   • Constant criticism can suffocate a child's imagination.
   • The company's culture suffocates innovation.

   ruПодавлятьessofocarfrÉtouffer (le développement)deErstickenptSufocarzh压制arيكبت

   同义词: chokecrushcurbdampeninhibitquashrepresssmotherstiflesuppress

   反义词: encouragefosterinspirenurturepromotestimulate

5. Die from lack of oxygen B2 formal

   To die because of insufficient oxygen intake.

   • The fish suffocated after being out of water for too long.
   • Many miners suffocated in the collapsed tunnel.
   • The animal suffocated in the sealed container.

   ruЗадохнутьсяesMorir por falta de oxígenofrmourir par asphyxiedeErstickenptMorrer sufocadozh窒息而死arالموت بالاختناق

   同义词: asphyxiatechokesmotherstifle

6. Feel uncomfortable for lack of fresh air B1 informal

   To feel uncomfortable or distressed due to a lack of fresh air.

   • I'm suffocating in this crowded, stuffy room.
   • Open the window, I'm suffocating in here!
   • The heat and humidity made everyone feel like they were suffocating.

   ruЗадыхатьсяesAsfixiarse por falta de aire frescofrétouffer (manque d'air)deKeine Luft bekommenptSufocarzh感到窒息arالاختناق

   同义词: chokesmotherstifle

7. Struggle for breath B2 formal

   To have difficulty breathing or to have insufficient oxygen intake.

   • The asthmatic patient was suffocating and needed an inhaler.
   • He was suffocating from the thick smoke.
   • The drowning man was suffocating as he gasped for air.

   ruЗадыхатьсяesAhogarse (por falta de aire)frétouffer (manquer d'air)deErstickenptFalta de arzh窒息arاختناق

   同义词: asphyxiatechokegasppantwheeze

   反义词: breathe

• suffocated past participle
• suffocated past simple
• suffocating present participle
• suffocates third person singular