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   Sti·fle

   /ˈstīf(ə)l/

   

   verb

   • 1. make (someone) unable to breathe properly; suffocate: "those in the streets were stifled by the fumes" Similar suffocatechokeasphyxiatesmother
   • 2. restrain (a reaction) or stop oneself acting on (an emotion): "she stifled a giggle" Similar suppresssmotherrestrainkeep backhold backhold infight backchoke backgulp backwithholdcheckkeep in checkswallowmufflequenchcurbsilencecontainbottle upbite one's lipcork upOpposite let out
   • ▪ prevent or constrain (an activity or idea): "high taxes were stifling private enterprise" Similar constrainhinderhamperimpedehold backcurbcheckrestrainpreventinhibitput an end/stop tostopquashsquashstamp outdestroycrushextinguishdeadendamp downsubduesuppressrepresssilencemufflemutegagOpposite encourage

   Word Origin late Middle English: perhaps from a frequentative of Old French estouffer ‘smother, stifle’.

   Derivatives

   • 1. stifler noun

   Scrabble Points: 9

   • S

     1

   • T

     1

   • I

     1

   • F

     4

   • L

     1

   • E

     1

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