asphyxiateverb [ T often passive ]
uk/əsˈfɪk.si.eɪt/us/əsˈfɪk.si.eɪt/formalto cause someone to be unable to breathe, usually resulting in that person's death:
The murder inquiry found that the children had been asphyxiated.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Animal physiology: breathing & stopping breathing
- aerobic respiration
- anaerobic
- asphyxia
- aspiration
- breath
- breathable
- breathe
- breathing
- gasp
- heave
- huff
- intake
- respiration
- respiratory
- sleep apnoea
- smother
- strangle
- strangulate
- suffocating
- winded
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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
Murder & attempted murder
asphyxiation
noun [ U ] uk/əsˌfɪk.siˈeɪ.ʃən/us/əsˌfɪk.siˈeɪ.ʃən/