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

Synonym(s): smother, strangle, muffle, repress

Hypernym(s): inhibit, bottle_up, suppress

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

Synonym(s): dampen

Hypernym(s): inhibit, bottle_up, suppress

Antonym(s): stimulate

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

Synonym(s): suffocate, asphyxiate, choke

Hypernym(s): obstruct, obturate, impede, occlude, jam, block, close_up

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

Synonym(s): suffocate, asphyxiate

Hypernym(s): die, decease, perish, go, exit, pass_away, expire, pass, kick_the_bucket, cash_in_one%27s_chips, buy_the_farm, conk, give-up_the_ghost, drop_dead, pop_off, choke, croak, snuff_it

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

Synonym(s): smothered, strangled, suppressed