verb
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
a muffled/stifled scream (= made quieter, for example by putting a hand over someone’s mouth )
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No one heard her muffled screams.
a strangled/stifled cry (= that stops before it is finished )
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The girl gave a stifled cry of disappointment.
stifle debate (= prevent people from having a debate )
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How can the party stifle debate on such an important issue?
stifled a yawn (= tried to stop yawning )
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Kay shook her head and stifled a yawn .
stifle/suppress a giggle (= try to not laugh )
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Britta covered her mouth to stifle a giggle.
stifling/sweltering/unbearably hot (= used about weather that is very hot and uncomfortable )
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The office gets unbearably hot in summer.
the searing/stifling/sweltering/scorching etc heat (= extreme heat )
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The desert is a place of scorching heat by day and bitter cold by night.
COLLOCATIONS FROM CORPUS
■ NOUN
attempt
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Any attempt to stifle or fetter such criticism amounts to political censorship of the most insidious and objectionable kind.
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University officials adamantly deny any attempt to stifle promotion of minorities.
cry
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She loved everything about this man, and when he took her she tried to stifle the cry of pain.
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Some one brusquely pulled the headscarf down over her face, stifling her cry , cutting off her vision.
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We were well aware of him stifling cries of pain, but there was nothing for it but to proceed.
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She bit her lower lip to stifle the cry in her throat and felt the goosepimples bristling across her skin.
urge
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As he felt Joe begin fumbling with his trousers Michael stifled an urge to slam his fist into Joe's head.
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She stifled an urge to brain her son with it, and instead placed it in the sink.
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Jody stifles the urge to call a time-out and berate them.
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Billy stifled the urge to laugh out loud.
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But such policies could not stifle all urges to freedom.
yawn
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He sighs and stifles a yawn .
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After feeding in the access code he sat back and stifled a yawn .
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He stifled a yawn then stood up and went into the kitchen.
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He apologises as he stifles another yawn and tries to look interested.
■ VERB
try
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This is important because there are many interests which may try to stifle attempts to improve health care.
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He is also considered to be far weaker than his half-brother and may make concessions to try to stifle dissent.
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Nineteenth century tries to stifle doubts by crushing you with sheer bulk, he wrote.
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She tried to stifle the insidious army of questions tentatively beginning to attack her.
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She loved everything about this man, and when he took her she tried to stifle the cry of pain.
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Hunt lay with his face to the floor, trying to stifle his own noise.
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
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Maria looked away and stifled a giggle.
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Martial law continues to stifle political debate in the country.
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She stifled a yawn as the boss read out the sales figures.
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She stifled the urge to scream.
EXAMPLES FROM CORPUS
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Apparently satisfied, the man leaned back, stifling a choking, coughing fit.
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Indications of tangible progress in the late 1930s were stifled by the constraints of war.
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One wonders whether that overt gesture really was meant to stifle covert action.
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Outside the wintry sunlight had been stifled by cloud and Blanche saw pedestrians begin to walk past with glistening umbrellas.
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She leapt to her feet with a cry which was instantly stifled by a mouthful of insects.