Pronunciation: /ˈstaɪ.fəl/
noun the act of stifling
A1 The stifling heat made it hard to breathe.
A2 The stifling silence in the room was uncomfortable.
B1 Her laughter was like a breath of fresh air in the stifling atmosphere.
B2 The stifling regulations stifled creativity in the workplace.
C1 The stifling bureaucracy of the company hindered its growth.
C2 The stifling control of the government stifled freedom of speech.
verb to restrain or stop oneself from acting on a feeling or impulse
A1 The pillow was so fluffy that it nearly stifled my laughter.
A2 She tried to stifle a yawn during the boring lecture.
B1 The government's strict regulations stifled innovation in the industry.
B2 The company's outdated policies were stifling employee creativity.
C1 The oppressive regime attempted to stifle any form of dissent.
C2 The artist felt stifled by the constraints of the traditional art world.
formal The lack of ventilation in the room seemed to stifle the air.
informal I had to stifle a laugh when I saw his funny dance moves.
slang She tried to stifle her excitement when she found out she won the contest.
figurative The strict rules seemed to stifle his creativity.
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