stifle

[stahy-fuhl] / ˈstaɪ fəl /

VERB

prevent, restrain

Synonyms

STRONGEST

curb muzzle repress silence smother squelch strangle suffocate suppress

STRONG

asphyxiate burke check choke constipate cork extinguish gag hush kill muffle spike squash stagnate stop stultify torpedo trammel

WEAK

black out bring to screeching halt choke back clam up clamp down cover up crack down dry up hold it down hush up put the lid on shut up sit on

Antonyms

STRONGEST

allow encourage free let go loose release

STRONG

aid assist bear begin create help start

WEAK

persuade

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.

Ruggeri was tasked with trying to keep Lamine Yamal quiet during the quarter-finals, and his job this time might be trying to stifle Arsenal's Bukayo Saka.

From BBC • Apr. 28, 2026

Already saddled with some of the nation’s highest combined tax burdens, New York City cannot afford policies that accelerate outmigration, deter investment and stifle growth.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 18, 2026

Instead of erecting burdensome bureaucratic roadblocks that would stifle progress, we should encourage responsible innovation that serves human dignity and the common good.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 6, 2026

Many legal and media experts have said a stricter application of the rule would be hard to enforce and could stifle free speech.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 17, 2026

He looked like an ordinary bank employee, but Alba recognized him immediately and was unable to stifle the shout of joy that rose up from within her.

From "The House of the Spirits: A Novel" by Isabel Allende

Vocabulary lists containing stifle

The Diary of Anne Frank

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"The Tell-Tale Heart," Vocabulary from the short story

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List 5

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