smotherers
Those who suffocate
Smotherers are people or things that smother—that cover, suffocate, or suppress.
A parent who overwhelms a child with excessive attention is a smotherer.
In sports, smotherers are defenders who play tight coverage: The team's smotherers shut down the opposing offense.
The word implies an oppressive closeness that denies breathing room, literal or figurative.
Those who deprive of air
- stranglersThose who kill by choking
- chokersSnug neck adornments
- garrotingExecution by throat-cord
- constrictingMaking narrower by pressure
oppressing · crushing · squeezing · enveloping · overwhelming
Ones who suppress
- silencersDevices that reduce noise
- dampenersThings that lessen force
- inhibitorsAgents blocking biological processes
- repressorsAgents that inhibit expression
extinguishers · subduers · restrainers · censors · mufflers · squelchers · quenchers · blockers
Those who direct operations
- overbearingArrogantly dominating in manner
- dictatorsRulers with total control
- tyrantsOppressive absolute rulers
- authoritariansRulers demanding total compliance
dominators · bullies · bossy · meddlesome · intrusive · imposing · demanding · oppressive
Those who pamper excessively
- hoverersOnes floating in place
- pamperersThose who indulge excessively
- cossetingOverprotective care
- dotingExcessively affectionate toward
fussing · sheltering · nurturing · overprotective · indulgent · clucking · fawning · enveloping
suffocators
Those who deprive of air
- stranglersThose who kill by choking
- chokersSnug neck adornments
- garrotingExecution by throat-cord
constricting · oppressing · crushing · squeezing · enveloping · overwhelming
stiflers
Ones who suppress
- silencersDevices that reduce noise
- dampenersThings that lessen force
- inhibitorsAgents blocking biological processes
repressors · extinguishers · subduers · restrainers · censors · mufflers · squelchers · quenchers · blockers · concealers
controllers
Those who direct operations
- overbearingArrogantly dominating in manner
- dictatorsRulers with total control
- tyrantsOppressive absolute rulers
authoritarians · dominators · bullies · bossy · meddlesome · intrusive · imposing · demanding · oppressive · interfering
coddlers
Those who pamper excessively
doting · fussing · sheltering · nurturing · overprotective · indulgent · clucking · fawning · enveloping · attentive
coverers
Those who conceal
- toppingFood's finishing layer
- dousingWetting completely, suddenly
- slatheringApplying thickly, liberally
smotherersresuscitators
Devices restoring breath
ventilators · oxygenators · rescuers · liberators · revivers
smotherersliberators
Those who free captives
encouragers · emancipators · nurturers · enablers · cultivators
smotherersabandoners
Those who forsake others
distancers · detachers · withdrawers · ignorers · cold fish
- smothered pork chopsBraised cutlets in thick gravy