Thesaurus.com
Dictionary.com
Definitions

stifling

[stahy-fling] / ˈstaɪ flɪŋ /


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Forty years ago in February, Jackson wriggled free of her father Joe Jackson’s stifling management with the release of “Control.”

From Salon • Apr. 11, 2026

Business leaders have also privately complained that migrating all online services onto Max risks stifling innovation and limiting Russia’s ability to compete with China and the U.S.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026

Elevated mortgage rates, now at 6.55% for 30-year fixed loans, and cautious consumers are stifling housing demand.

From Barron's • Mar. 25, 2026

Both hospice and inspiration, it’s a stifling place decorated with floral wallpaper and crucifixes.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 11, 2026

I thrashed my limbs in desperate abandon as it streamed into my nose and mouth, stifling me, seeping into my very pores, weighing me down.

From "Flying Through Water" by Mamle Wolo




Vocabulary lists containing stifling