Word
suffocating
Phoneticssuf·fo·cat·ing
US/ˈsəfəˌkeɪtɪŋ/
UK/sˈʌfəkˌeɪtɪŋ/
Definition
adj. making it very difficult to breathe or feeling like you have no freedom. You use this to describe a room that is too hot or a situation that feels too controlling.
adj. causing difficulty in breathing due to a lack of fresh air; metaphorically describes a situation or relationship that feels restrictive or overwhelming. Often used predicatively after linking verbs like 'feel' or 'seem'.
Examples
“The heat in this small room is suffocating.”
“She found the strict rules of her new office suffocating and decided to look for a more flexible job.”
“The humid air in the valley became suffocating as the storm approached, trapping the heat against the earth and making even the slightest physical exertion feel like a struggle.”
Examples
simple
“The heat in this small room is suffocating.”
contextual
“She found the strict rules of her new office suffocating and decided to look for a more flexible job.”
complex
“The humid air in the valley became suffocating as the storm approached, trapping the heat against the earth and making even the slightest physical exertion feel like a struggle.”
Usage
Commonly used both literally for physical air quality and figuratively for social or emotional restriction.
Real-World Examples
“Indonesia has been battling fires for weeks in parts of Borneo and Sumatra, sending suffocating haze across the islands and neighboring Malaysia and Singapore.” “Little penguins are choking, seabirds are starving, and corals are suffocating,” she said.” Scan code
englishreference.com/q/suffocating