stifle
1 antonym for stifle — opposites grouped by meaning.
Verb — To suppress or hold back something such as a sound, feeling, or reaction.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. verb
To suppress or hold back something such as a sound, feeling, or reaction.
“She stifled a laugh during the funeral.”
Opposites
2. noun
In horses and other four-legged animals, the joint on the hind leg that corresponds to the human knee.
“The vet examined the horse's stifle after it started limping.”
Antonyms
How to use stifle
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
stifle a yawn
stifle creativity
stifle dissent
Etymology
Traced back through Middle English "stuflen" to Old French "estouffer" ("to choke or suffocate"), the same root that gives modern French "étouffer".
Full origin of stifle →Frequently asked questions
What does “stifle” mean?
The word “stifle” means to suppress or hold back something such as a sound, feeling, or reaction. In plain terms, to hold something back so it cannot come out — a laugh, a cry, criticism, or even air itself.
How do you pronounce “stifle”?
“Stifle” is pronounced STYFL (/ˈstaɪf(ə)l/ in IPA).
How do you use “stifle” in a sentence?
Here is “stifle” used in a sentence: “She stifled a laugh during the funeral.”
What part of speech is “stifle”?
Depending on how it is used, “stifle” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “stifle” come from?
The word “stifle” comes from Old French. Traced back through Middle English "stuflen" to Old French "estouffer" ("to choke or suffocate"), the same root that gives modern French "étouffer".
How many meanings does “stifle” have?
“Stifle” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to suppress or hold back something such as a sound, feeling, or reaction.
