1. (

• smother ,
• stifle ,
• strangle ,
• muffle ,
• repress

) suppress in order to conceal or hide; "smother a yawn"; "muffle one's anger"; "strangle a laugh"; "repress a cry of fear" ;

2. (

• stifle ,
• dampen ,

) suppress or constrain so as to lessen in intensity; "Stifle your curiosity" ;

3. (

• suffocate ,
• stifle ,
• asphyxiate ,
• choke ,

) impair the respiration of or obstruct the air passage of; "The foul air was slowly suffocating the children" ;

4. (

• suffocate ,
• stifle ,
• asphyxiate

) be asphyxiated; die from lack of oxygen; "The child suffocated under the pillow" ;

1. (

• smothered ,
• stifled ,
• strangled ,
• suppressed ,

) held in check with difficulty; "a smothered cough"; "a stifled yawn"; "a strangled scream"; "suppressed laughter" ;