smother

IPA/ˈsmʌðə(r)/
KK[smˈʌðɚ]IPA/ˈsmʌðər/

smother — verb

  • smotherpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • smothershe / she / it
  • smotheredpast simple
  • smothering-ing form

1. to end a person's life by pressing something over their mouth and nose so that a

1.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to end a person's life by pressing something over their mouth and nose so that air cannot reach their lungs

Example

Sari's neighbour was found dead in bed, smothered with a pillow.

passive: be smothered with [object]

The nurse admitted she had tried to smother the elderly patient under a cushion.

smother + person + under [object]

Common collocations
  • smother someone with a pillow
  • smother someone with a cushion
  • smother someone in their sleep
  • be smothered to death
Synonyms
  • suffocate

    more general; can happen without direct action (e.g., in a sealed room)

  • asphyxiate

    more technical/medical; used in formal reports

  • choke

    blockage inside the throat, not external covering

Antonyms
  • resuscitate

    to bring someone back to life after they stopped breathing

Grammar Patterns

smother + person

smother + person + with + object

be smothered

Usage Note

Frequently appears in passive constructions in crime reporting and legal contexts.

Common Mistakes

The killer strangled her with a pillow.
The killer smothered her with a pillow.
'strangle' means to squeeze the neck; 'smother' means to cover the mouth and nose.

2. to cause a plant or other living thing to die by covering it so completely that

2.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to cause a plant or other living thing to die by covering it so completely that light and air cannot reach it

Example

The ivy slowly smothered the old rose bushes growing against the garden wall.

plant smothers plant

Minho's vegetable patch was ruined when fast-growing weeds smothered the tomato plants.

weeds smother + plant

Common collocations
  • weeds smother plants
  • vines smother trees
  • leaves smother grass
  • smothered by ivy
Synonyms
  • choke

    more common in everyday gardening talk

  • stifle

    also used figuratively; slightly less specific

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

smother + plant/vegetation

weeds/vines smother + plant

Usage Note

Used primarily in gardening, farming, and ecological contexts. The subject is often an invasive plant or natural material.

3. to extinguish a fire by placing a material over it so that oxygen can no longer

3.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to extinguish a fire by placing a material over it so that oxygen can no longer reach the flames

Example

Esteban grabbed a heavy blanket and used it to smother the flames on the stove.

smother + flames + with [object]

A sand bucket near the campfire lets anyone smother the embers before leaving.

smother + fire/embers + with [material]

Common collocations
  • smother a fire
  • smother flames
  • smother the coals
  • smother the embers
Synonyms
  • extinguish

    more formal; includes methods other than covering (e.g., water, chemicals)

  • stifle

    less common for fire; more often used for sounds or feelings

  • douse

    uses liquid, not covering

Antonyms
  • ignite

    to cause a fire to start

  • kindle

    to start or build up a fire

Grammar Patterns

smother + fire/flames

smother + fire + with + object

4. to stop a feeling, idea, or activity from developing, growing, or being shown op

4.verbtransitiveC1
Definition

to stop a feeling, idea, or activity from developing, growing, or being shown openly

Example

Bilal tried to smother his anger during the meeting and spoke calmly instead.

smother + emotion (anger)

The government used new laws to smother any public criticism of the policy.

smother + abstract noun (criticism)

Common collocations
  • smother feelings
  • smother anger
  • smother dissent
  • smother creativity
  • smother a rebellion
Synonyms
  • stifle

    lighter in tone; often used for sounds or brief impulses

  • suppress

    more formal; can be intentional or institutional

  • quash

    more forceful and formal; often of rebellions or legal challenges

  • repress

    psychological/emotional; often subconscious

Antonyms
  • encourage

    to support the development of something

  • foster

    to help something grow and develop

  • express

    to show a feeling openly

Grammar Patterns

smother + feeling/emotion

smother + idea/creativity

smother + protest/rebellion

Usage Note

Subject is often an authority figure, institution, or a person's self-control. The verb carries a negative tone — the thing being stopped is seen as natural or legitimate.

Common Mistakes

She smothered her laughter at the joke.
She stifled her laughter at the joke.
'smother' implies a heavier, more complete suppression; 'stifle' is more natural for a brief moment of holding back.

5. to show a child or loved one so much care and attention that they feel unable to

5.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to show a child or loved one so much care and attention that they feel unable to be independent or make their own choices

Example

Nellie loves her son deeply but tries not to smother him with constant advice.

smother + person + with + abstract noun

Some parents smother their children by doing everything for them instead of letting them try.

smother + children + by + doing something

Common collocations
  • smother a child
  • smother someone with love
  • smother someone with attention
  • smothering parents
Synonyms
  • overprotect

    more neutral; focuses on protection rather than love

  • coddle

    suggests treating someone as too delicate or weak

  • mollycoddle

    informal and slightly old-fashioned; overly indulgent

Antonyms
  • neglect

    to fail to give enough care or attention

Grammar Patterns

smother + child/person

smother + person + with + love/attention

Usage Note

Used critically — calling someone 'smothering' implies their care has become harmful. Often appears in discussions of parenting styles.

Common Mistakes

She loves her children very much, but she smothers them by cooking for them every day.
She loves her children very much, but she smothers them by never letting them make their own decisions.
cooking for children is not necessarily smothering; the key is preventing independence.

6. to spread a thick layer of something over a surface or object, often in a way th

6.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to spread a thick layer of something over a surface or object, often in a way that seems excessive

Example

The steak was smothered in a rich mushroom sauce and served with roasted potatoes.

passive: be smothered in [food]

Élise smothered the toast with butter and honey until it was dripping.

smother + object + with [spread]

Common collocations
  • smothered in sauce
  • smothered with cream
  • smothered in chocolate
  • smothered with kisses
Synonyms
  • cover

    neutral; no implication of excess or thickness

  • drench

    used for liquids, not dry substances

  • coat

    more even and intentional; less excessive in tone

Antonyms
  • scrape

    to remove a layer from a surface

Grammar Patterns

smother + object + in/with + substance

be smothered in/with

Usage Note

Very common in cooking contexts (smothered in sauce, gravy, cream). Also used jokingly or dramatically for any thick coating.

smother — noun

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

All four words describe a lack of air, but they differ in cause and register. 'Smother' specifically means to block air by covering the mouth and nose with something from outside — a pillow, a bag, or a hand. 'Suffocate' is the broadest term: it can happen by smothering, by being in a sealed room, or by having the chest compressed. 'Stifle' is gentler; it often refers to holding back a sound or feeling ('stifle a yawn'), though it can also mean physical suffocation in a small space. 'Choke' involves a blockage inside the throat — food, liquid, or swelling — rather than an external cover. 'Asphyxiate' is the medical/technical term for death caused by lack of oxygen, regardless of how it happened. Example: 'The killer smothered the victim with a pillow' (external covering); 'He choked on a piece of meat' (internal blockage); 'The room was sealed, and the trapped workers suffocated' (environmental).

suffocate ↗stifle ↗choke ↗asphyxiate

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • smother to death
  • smother with kindness
  • smother with love
  • smothered in sauce

Prepositions

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

The word 'smother' comes from Old English 'smorian', meaning 'to suffocate or choke'. It is related to the Middle Dutch 'smoren' and the German 'schmoren' (to stew or smother). In Middle English, 'smorther' appeared as both a noun (meaning stifling smoke) and a verb. The literal sense of killing by blocking air has been in use since the earliest records, while the figurative senses — suppressing emotions, overprotecting a child, covering thickly — developed gradually from the 16th century onward.