suffocating

(verb) deprive of oxygen and prevent from breathing. Synonyms: smother, asphyxiate, suffocate. Examples: "Othello smothered desdemona with a pillow." "The child suffocated herself with a plastic bag that the parents had left on the floor."

(verb) impair the respiration of or obstruct the air passage of. Synonyms: suffocate, stifle, asphyxiate, choke. Example: "The foul air was slowly suffocating the children."

(verb) become stultified, suppressed, or stifled. Synonyms: suffocate, choke. Example: "He is suffocating--living at home with his aged parents in the small village."

(verb) suppress the development, creativity, or imagination of. Synonyms: suffocate, choke. Example: "His job suffocated him."

(verb) be asphyxiated; die from lack of oxygen. Synonyms: suffocate, stifle, asphyxiate. Example: "The child suffocated under the pillow."

(verb) feel uncomfortable for lack of fresh air. Synonyms: suffocate. Example: "The room was hot and stuffy and we were suffocating."

(verb) struggle for breath; have insufficient oxygen intake. Synonyms: gag, choke, strangle, suffocate. Example: "He swallowed a fishbone and gagged."

(adj) causing difficulty in breathing especially through lack of fresh air and presence of heat. Synonyms: smothering, suffocative. Examples: "The choking june dust." "The smothering soft voices." "Smothering heat." "The room was suffocating--hot and airless."