The phrase "stifle criticism" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
It means to prevent or suppress negative comments or opinions. Example: The government's strict laws on media censorship effectively stifle criticism and limit freedom of speech within the country.
Parliament has repealed a stringent criminal defamation law that critics said officials had used to stifle criticism of the government of President Chandrika Kumaratunga, which was defeated in elections last year.
Many worry that the UN's eagerness to see a transition may stifle criticism of the process.
Rather than trying to raise media standards, Mr. Calderón said, Mr. Correa was seeking to stifle criticism.
London was the port of call for oligarchs, sheikhs and corporations who wanted to stifle criticism anywhere in the world.
The concern was that inserting it into grant agreements would stifle criticism and prevent experts informing government policy.
Some go further, alleging that Jews' real purpose in raising the subject of antisemitism is to stifle criticism of Israel.
The incident led to charges that MSNBC, a unit of NBC Universal, had stifled criticism of itself on its own channel.
A longer wait and stiffer entry criteria would have been wiser.No time for tribalismNone of this is an excuse for failing to act or stifling criticism.
The author went on to say that Holocaust art always ends up mawkish, sentimental or banal and, worse still, the subject matter stifles criticism.
Some commentators suggest this move was aimed at stifling criticism of the paper which had branded health minister Dr "Beetroot Mantoo Tshabalala-Msimang, "a thief and a liar".
At least someone is speaking for the moderate Left in this Europe of Omerta, where the code of silence stifles criticism from those whose political values are most injured.
