adj
stifling
STYF-lihng
adj
1
Oppressively hot, airless, or restrictive.
"The stifling heat made it hard to concentrate."
"She found the rules of the old office stifling."
How to Use Stifling
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSo oppressive it feels hard to breathe or move freely, whether that is heat or restrictions.
Common pairings
stifling heat
stifling atmosphere
stifling bureaucracy
Word Forms
more stifling comparative, stiflings plural, most stifling superlative
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The _____ heat made it hard to concentrate.