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1. Characterized by oppressive heat and humidity
   "the stifling atmosphere"
   - sultry, sulfurous [N. Amer], sulphurous [Brit, Cdn], sulphureous [Brit]

1. Forceful prevention; putting down by power or authority
   "the stifling of all dissent"
   - suppression, crushing, quelling

1. Conceal or hide
   - smother, strangle, muffle, repress
    
2. Smother or suppress
   "Stifle your curiosity"
   - dampen
    
3. Impair the respiration of or obstruct the air passage of
   - suffocate, asphyxiate, choke
    
4. Be asphyxiated; die from lack of oxygen
   - suffocate, asphyxiate

Derived forms: stiflings

See also: hot, stifler

Type of: bar, block, buy the farm [N. Amer], cash in one's chips, choke, close up, conk, conquer, croak, curb, decease, die, drop dead, exit, expire, give-up the ghost, go, impede, inhibit, jam, kick the bucket, obstruct, obturate, occlude, pass, pass away, perish, pop off, pop one's clogs, prevention, snuff it, stamp down, subdue, suppress

Antonym: stimulate

Encyclopedia: Stifle