English Meaning & Definitions
Very hot and causing difficulties in breathing; suffocating.
- “We stepped outside into the stifling heat of the tropical afternoon.”
- “The small conference room became stifling after an hour with thirty people inside.”
Serving to suppress, restrain, or prevent the development of something, such as creativity, freedom, or expression.
- “She felt trapped by the stifling expectations of her traditional upbringing.”
- “The new corporate policies proved to be stifling to innovation and independent thought.”
Present participle of stifle: to suffocate, suppress, or restrain.
- “He had trouble stifling a yawn during the long lecture.”
- “The government was accused of stifling dissent among journalists.”
English Synonyms & Near Equivalents
English Antonyms & Opposites
Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown
Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “stifling”.
Derived from the verb 'stifle' (Middle English 'styflen', of uncertain origin, possibly related to Old Norse or Old French), combined with the present participle suffix '-ing'. Historically used in reference to physical asphyxiation or smothering, it has broadened metaphorically to describe environments or conditions that suppress freedom, creativity, or comfort.
Think of 'stifling' as 'stiff' plus 'feeling'—you feel so hot or trapped that your body goes stiff and you can barely breathe.
Frequently Asked Questions About “stifling”
1. What is the meaning of “stifling” in English?
In English, stifling (adjective) is defined as: “Very hot and causing difficulties in breathing; suffocating.”.
2. How do you use “stifling” in a sentence?
“We stepped outside into the stifling heat of the tropical afternoon.”
3. What are English synonyms of “stifling”?
4. What is the etymology and word origin of “stifling”?
Derived from the verb 'stifle' (Middle English 'styflen', of uncertain origin, possibly related to Old Norse or Old French), combined with the present participle suffix '-ing'. Historically used in reference to physical asphyxiation or smothering, it has broadened metaphorically to describe environments or conditions that suppress freedom, creativity, or comfort.
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