# suffocating

/ˈsəfəˌkeɪtɪŋ/ (US) · /sˈʌfəkˌeɪtɪŋ/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/suffocating
Updated: 2026-05-09

## Definition

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.

For teachers: 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.

## Usage notes

- Commonly used both literally for physical air quality and figuratively for social or emotional restriction.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.