stifle Hear it!

stifle¹ Definition

sti·fle (stīfəl)

transitive verb -·fled, -·fling

  1. to kill by cutting off the supply of air from; suffocate; smother; choke
  2. to suppress or repress; hold back; check, stop, inhibit, etc. to stifle a sob, to stifle protests

Etymology: altered (prob. infl. by ON stīfla, to stop up: for IE base see stiff) < ME stuflen, freq. formation < MFr estouffer, to smother < VL *stuppare, to stuff up (see stop), infl. by *extufare, to quench, smother, steam, stew

intransitive verb

  1. to die from lack of air
  2. to suffer from lack of fresh, cool air

stifle¹ Related Forms
sti·fler noun
stifle² Definition

sti·fle (stīfəl)

noun

the kneelike joint above the hock in the hind leg of a horse, dog, etc.

Etymology: ME

stifle Synonyms

stifle

v.

stifle Usage Examples

Object

  • yawn: Mr Blair himself was seen to stifle a yawn.
  • dissent: What this is really about is stifling dissent on a national scale.
  • 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.

Subject

  • 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?

Adjective complement

  • joint: The thigh should still appear wide at the stifle joint.

Modifying Another Word

  • potentially: His visionary voice is potentially stifled by sorrow and grief, and he attempts to contain that dangerous erosion of his prophetic vision.
  • effectively: He effectively stifled all ambition of those below him, enjoining to himself all the offices of the Order.
  • rather: But where the Arkle can be formal and rather stifling, the Brasserie has a more relaxed, robust and approachable character.
  • quickly: There are threats of guitar brilliance but they're quickly stifled.
  • often: Delays can be, and are, often stifling.
  • even: Or are you trying to stifle even this form of objection now Cllr Byrne?

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: of

  • criticism: And, indeed, the stifling of criticism of religion can be an effect of multiculturalism.

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?

Browse dictionary entries near stifle

  1. stiffen
  2. stiff-necked
  3. stiff-arm
  4. stiff
  5. Stieglitz
  6. sticky wicket
  7. sticky fingers
  8. sticky
  9. stickwork
  10. stickweed
  1. stifling
  2. stigma
  3. stigmasterol
  4. stigmata
  5. stigmatic
  6. stigmatism
  7. stigmatize
  8. stilbene
  9. stilbestrol
  10. stilbite