stifled: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Formal and informal, common in written and spoken English.
Quick answer
What does “stifled” mean?
Suppressed, smothered, or held back, especially referring to sound, breath, emotion, or development.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Suppressed, smothered, or held back, especially referring to sound, breath, emotion, or development.
A state of being prevented from being expressed, heard, or continued freely; experiencing a constraining or oppressive atmosphere.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Spelling is identical.
Connotations
Similar connotations of suppression and oppression in both varieties.
Frequency
Slightly more common in written, descriptive prose than in casual speech in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “stifled” in a Sentence
Subject + verb + stifled + Object (e.g., She stifled a scream)Subject + be/become/feel + stifled + (by/with/in) (e.g., He felt stifled in the role.)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “stifled” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He stifled a curse when he stubbed his toe.
- The government was accused of trying to stifle legitimate criticism.
American English
- She stifled a giggle during the serious meeting.
- High taxes can stifle economic growth.
adverb
British English
- 'No,' he said stifledly, trying to control his anger. (Rare/archaic)
American English
- She laughed stifledly into her hand. (Rare/archaic)
adjective
British English
- A stifled gasp was heard from the audience.
- He resigned, citing a stifled corporate culture.
American English
- She answered with a stifled tone of resentment.
- The stifled air in the attic was hard to breathe.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Innovation can be stifled by excessive risk aversion and hierarchical management structures.
Academic
The study examines how dissenting voices were systematically stifled during the period.
Everyday
I had to leave the room because I felt completely stifled by the lack of fresh air.
Technical
In medicine, 'stifled' is not a standard technical term; 'respiratory depression' or 'airway obstruction' are preferred.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “stifled”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “stifled”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “stifled”
- Using 'stiffed' (cheated) instead of 'stifled'.
- Incorrectly using the adjective form without a linking verb, e.g., 'He was in a stifle room.' (Correct: 'He was in a stifling/stifled room.')
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is used for both. For sounds (a stifled laugh), it means muffled. For feelings or development (stifled creativity), it means suppressed or hindered.
They are close synonyms. 'Stifled' often carries a stronger connotation of suffocation or immediate physical restraint, while 'suppressed' can be more general and deliberate, especially in psychological or political contexts.
Yes, it can describe an atmosphere that feels oppressive and hard to breathe in, e.g., 'the stifled air of the underground bunker.'
Yes, 'stifle' is a regular verb. Its past tense and past participle are both formed by adding '-d', making 'stifled'.
Suppressed, smothered, or held back, especially referring to sound, breath, emotion, or development.
Stifled is usually formal and informal, common in written and spoken english. in register.
Stifled: in British English it is pronounced /ˈstaɪfld/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈstaɪfəld/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “stifled by bureaucracy”
- “stifled by tradition”
- “a stifled atmosphere”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a STIFF LED light covered by a blanket – the light is stifled, unable to shine freely.
Conceptual Metaphor
EXPRESSION IS BREATH/AIR; SUPPRESSION IS SUFFOCATION.
Practice
Quiz
In the sentence 'The stifled sobs from the next room were barely audible,' what is the most likely meaning of 'stifled'?