Stifled

Pronunciation: /ˈstaɪfəld/

Definitions of stifled

verb to suppress, restrain, or stop something from happening

Example Sentences

A1 She stifled a yawn during the boring lecture.

A2 The strict rules stifled his creativity.

B1 The oppressive regime stifled freedom of speech.

B2 The lack of ventilation in the room stifled the air circulation.

C1 The constant criticism stifled her confidence.

C2 The overwhelming workload stifled his ability to think clearly.

Examples of stifled in a Sentence

formal The government's strict regulations stifled innovation in the industry.

informal The overbearing rules really stifled our creativity.

slang The constant micromanaging stifled our vibe.

figurative Her fear of failure stifled her dreams and ambitions.

Grammatical Forms of stifled

• past tense: stifled
• plural: stifles
• comparative: more stifled
• superlative: most stifled
• present tense: stifle
• future tense: will stifle
• perfect tense: have stifled
• continuous tense: is stifling
• singular: stifled
• positive degree: stifled
• infinitive: to stifle
• gerund: stifling
• participle: stifling

Origin and Evolution of stifled

First Known Use: 1250 year

Language of Origin: Middle English

Story behind the word: The word 'stifled' originated from Middle English 'stiflien' which came from Old French 'estoufer' meaning to suffocate or smother.

Evolution of the word: Over time, the word 'stifled' has retained its original meaning of suffocating or suppressing, but it has also come to be used metaphorically to describe situations where something is being held back or prevented from progressing freely.