stifling
stifling — adjective
1. describes a place or weather that is so hot and lacking in moving air that it be
describes a place or weather that is so hot and lacking in moving air that it becomes hard for you to breathe comfortably.
The classroom was so stifling that several students asked to move to the library.
so + stifling + that-clause
On a stifling July afternoon, Elena sat under the only tree in the park.
Without air conditioning, the small apartment became stifling by midday.
The subway platform was stifling during the summer heatwave in Taipei.
Kwame opened every window in the stifling office, but not a single breeze came in.
- stuffy
less intense; focuses on stale air rather than heat
- sweltering
emphasizes extreme heat more than lack of air
- airless
focuses on lack of fresh air, not necessarily heat
用法筆記
Often describes indoor spaces, crowded places, or summer weather. Closely related to 'stuffy,' but stifling suggests heat AND lack of air, while stuffy mainly suggests stale air.
常見錯誤
2. describes a situation, set of rules, or social atmosphere that stops people from
describes a situation, set of rules, or social atmosphere that stops people from doing or saying what they want.
The company's dress code felt stifling to employees who wanted to wear casual clothes.
feel + stifling + to + [person]
Living in a small town became stifling for Amara because everyone knew everyone else's business.
Many writers find government censorship stifling because it limits what they can say.
The strict religious rules created a stifling atmosphere where no one dared to ask questions.
After the freedom of university, Lin found her parents' house rules stifling.
- oppressive
similar intensity but suggests a heavier emotional burden
- restrictive
more neutral; focuses on rules limiting action
- repressive
stronger; suggests active control by an authority
- liberating
giving freedom to act and express yourself
- free
without limits or control
用法筆記
Frequently appears with nouns like atmosphere, environment, rules, tradition, and culture. This sense is always metaphorical — the restriction is on behaviour or expression, not on breathing.
常見錯誤
stifling — verb
1. to stop a feeling, sound, or natural reaction from being shown, or to prevent a
to stop a feeling, sound, or natural reaction from being shown, or to prevent a process from developing or continuing.
Grace tried to stifle a yawn during the three-hour meeting.
stifle + [sound / reaction]
The government's new law was designed to stifle public debate.
designed to stifle + [abstract noun]
James put his hand over his mouth to stifle a cough during the concert.
The manager's negative attitude stifled any creativity in the team.
All conversation in the restaurant was stifled by the loud music from next door.
文法句型
stifle + noun phrase (abstract object: yawn, debate, creativity)
用法筆記
The object is nearly always abstract — yawns, laughter, cries, debate, dissent, creativity, innovation. For physical objects like fire or a flame, use 'smother' or 'extinguish' instead.
常見錯誤
2. to cause someone to have trouble breathing, or to find it hard to draw breath, u
to cause someone to have trouble breathing, or to find it hard to draw breath, usually because of heat, smoke, or lack of fresh air.
The thick smoke from the fire nearly stifled the firefighters inside the building.
stifled by + [smoke / fumes]
The heat in the packed train carriage was enough to stifle a healthy person.
Hana pulled her scarf over her nose to keep the dust from stifling her.
The kitchen filled with smoke from the burnt toast, nearly stifling the cook.
Omar felt the tight collar around his neck was starting to stifle him.
文法句型
stifle + noun phrase (person/breath)
be stifled by + [smoke / heat / dust]
stifle in + [place] (intransitive)
用法筆記
Often used in passive constructions and in descriptions of environments filled with smoke, dust, or extreme heat. The intransitive use ('I'm stifling in here') is common in informal speech.