Object

• yawn: Mr Blair himself was seen to stifle a yawn.

• creativity: Everything in the education system is tailored, through exams from the age of five, to stifle creativity.

• giggle: You can't get through a page without having to stifle giggles at the pompous redundancy of the literary quotations.

• tinkering: Architectures to prevent or stifle tinkering can be designed into products and technologies whether or not there is a law requiring them.

• innovation: Pressure to achieve waiting list targets should not be allowed to stifle local innovation.

Modifying Another Word

• even: Or are you trying to stifle even this form of objection now Cllr Byrne?

• effectively: He effectively stifled all ambition of those below him, enjoining to himself all the offices of the Order.

• quickly: There are threats of guitar brilliance but they're quickly stifled.

Used with why or when

• what: Am I athirst, how cool its waters run, or stifled what a vivifying air.

• when: Often, negative reaction from players or viewers was stifled when a clear, firm signal was displayed.

Preposition: by

• lack: His attacking threat was, admittedly, stifled by a lack of service.

• bureaucracy: In a countryside, increasingly stifled by bureaucracy, how will tomorrow's rural communities make a living?