SMOTHER

v. 1 suffocate, stifle, choke, asphyxiate; throttle, strangle, snuff (out), kill He was accused of trying to smother his wife with a pillow 2 be suffocated or stifled or asphyxiated, be choked or strangled, be killed The infant apparently smothered in the blanket 3 overwhelm, overcome, blanket, inundate, cover, shower; envelop, wrap, enshroud, surround The children crowded round and smothered her with kisses The banquet table was smothered in white roses. 4 repress, subdue, suppress, conceal, hide, keep or hold back, cover up, mask, choke back or down, check; stifle, muffle, blanket, blank out He managed to smother his grief and put on a brave face Our whispers were smothered by the noise of the hi-fi. 5 extinguish, put out, snuff out The foam from the fire extinguisher smothered the blaze in a few moments