verb
stifle
STYFL
Stifle (verb) means to suppress or hold back something such as a sound, feeling, or reaction. Example: “She stifled a laugh during the funeral.”
verb
1
To suppress or hold back something such as a sound, feeling, or reaction.
"She stifled a laugh during the funeral."
"The government was accused of stifling free speech."
2
To make breathing difficult, or to smother.
"The thick smoke began to stifle everyone in the room."
noun
1
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."
How to use stifle
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo hold something back so it cannot come out — a laugh, a cry, criticism, or even air itself.
Common pairings
stifle a yawn
stifle creativity
stifle dissent
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Word forms
- Plural
- stifles
- Third person singular
- stifles
- Past tense
- stifled
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She _____ a laugh during the funeral.
Etymology
Traced back through Middle English "stuflen" to Old French "estouffer" ("to choke or suffocate"), the same root that gives modern French "étouffer".
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for stifle
See all rhymes for 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.
