smother

Spain’s formidable defense helped it smother a France team that looked invincible before wilting during a 2-0 World Cup semifinal loss Tuesday in Arlington, Texas.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 15, 2026

He said it took him five minutes to smother the flames with a fire blanket before he noticed his whole house was becoming enveloped in smoke.

From BBC ● Jun. 26, 2026

We’ve been able to ruthlessly and mostly successfully smother the group from threatening the U.S. mainland and American interests abroad.

From Slate ● Apr. 21, 2026

Thick layers of dust smother giant grinding and pressing machines, while only a tiny crew of workers transfer the last batch made three weeks ago off snaking assembly lines and into trucks.

From Barron's ● Mar. 29, 2026

“Well, you don’t have to rush to hold doors open or smother me in compliments for me to like you.”

From "The Fault in Our Stars" by John Green

But as much as she smothers her desires, others can sense them.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 12, 2026

L.A.’s heat-seeking “Showtime” franchise is obsessed over more than any other, in good times and especially troubled ones, to the point where it smothers other NBA coverage and drives many fans nuts.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 16, 2025

The soil burns and sloughs off, leading to massive post-fire erosion that smothers coral, impacts fisheries and reduces the quality of the ocean water, she said.

From Seattle Times ● Aug. 10, 2023

João Guilherme twitches and groans in recognition when his father lifts him in the air, when his mother smothers him with kisses and when his sisters walk by and drop a smooch on his head.

From New York Times ● Aug. 16, 2022

She smothers me in a cloud of chemicals that makes me cough, and the next time I touch my hair it's so stiff it feels like plastic.

From "Starfish" by Akemi Dawn Bowman

Workers sweated in choking heat and pupils stayed home on Tuesday as an early-summer heatwave smothered much of Europe, sparking health warnings.

From Barron's ● Jun. 23, 2026

McTominay hit the side-netting, Dykes headed over, McTominay had a shot smothered.

From BBC ● Jun. 20, 2026

He has added gold trim to the crown molding, smothered the walls with gold-framed artworks and gold-painted embellishments, placed inch-thick gold coasters on the desk, and lined up gold urns on the mantel.

From Slate ● Jun. 11, 2026

She whipped out her ranch and smothered her face and neck.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 29, 2026

He could hear her gasping with small, smothered sobs as he approached the chasm.

From "Impossible Creatures" by Katherine Rundell

Some species may have acted as fire ladders, helping flames move through the landscape while also crowding out and smothering other vegetation.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 22, 2026

Spain clinched a berth to the final Tuesday by smothering France 2-0 at AT&T Stadium, running its unbeaten streak to 37 games while eliminating a team that had run roughshod through the tournament.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 15, 2026

A massive front of hot air from North Africa was smothering western Europe, Sebastien Leas, a forecaster at France's weather service Meteo-France, told AFP.

From Barron's ● Jun. 23, 2026

Extra nutrients lead to the growth of algae, smothering seagrass beds, blocking sunlight and depleting the water of oxygen.

From BBC ● May 2, 2026

The children swarmed over Sissy smothering her with hugs.

From "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" by Betty Smith