smother

Cut off air

Smother means to suffocate—to kill or nearly kill by cutting off air supply, typically by covering the nose and mouth: She smothered him with a pillow.

Extended meanings involve covering thickly or overwhelming: smothered in gravy, smothered with kisses.

To smother feelings is to suppress them.

To smother a fire is to extinguish it by depriving it of oxygen.

A relationship can feel smothering when one person's attention becomes oppressive: He's sweet but he smothers me.

suffocate

asphyxiate

Kill by blocking air

chokeObstruct breathing or airflow
strangleConstrict the throat
throttlePower flow controller

stifle · gasp · breathless · airless · suffocation · hypoxia · pillow · blanket · respiratory · drown

suppress

repress

Hold back forcibly

stifleSuppress or restrain
quashSuppress or nullify
silenceTotal lack of sound

curb · inhibit · quell · subdue · restrain · dampen · crush · squelch · extinguish · muffle

conceal

cover

Protect by overlaying

hideConceal or pelt
maskFace-worn concealment
cloakSleeveless outer wrap

shroud · veil · obscure · blanket · bury · envelop · enshroud · screen · eclipse · coat

overbearing

overprotective

Guarding too zealously

suffocatingDepriving of air
clingyTending to hold on
possessiveOverly attached, often toxically

helicopter · hovering · controlling · cloying · doting · coddling · overbearing · overwhelming · intrusive · stifling

cooking

braise

Sear, then slow-simmer

coveredHaving protection atop
slow-cookCook gradually with heat
steamHeated water's gaseous form

simmer · onions · gravy · sauce · baste · pan-fried · skillet · tender · caramelized · reduced

smother

asphyxiate

repress

cover

overprotective

braise

smother

Opposites

Phrases

Categories

Family