smothering
3 synonyms for smothering, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — The act of covering or suppressing something so completely it cannot breathe, grow, or develop.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
suffocating
suffocative
How to use smothering
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
smothering heat
smothering attention
Etymology
Inherited from Middle English smorþering.
Full origin of smothering →Frequently asked questions
What does “smothering” mean?
The word “smothering” means the act of covering or suppressing something so completely it cannot breathe, grow, or develop. In plain terms, describes something so intense or overprotective that it feels stifling.
How do you use “smothering” in a sentence?
Here is “smothering” used in a sentence: “The smothering of the small campfire took only a bucket of water.”
What part of speech is “smothering”?
Depending on how it is used, “smothering” can be a noun and an adjective.
How many meanings does “smothering” have?
“Smothering” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the act of covering or suppressing something so completely it cannot breathe, grow, or develop.
