suffocating

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "suffocating" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation or feeling that is overwhelming or oppressive, often in an emotional or physical sense. Example: "The atmosphere in the crowded room was suffocating, making it hard to breathe and think clearly."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He tries to guess which players can handle the scrutiny of New York, knowing that it can be suffocating.

The New York Times - Sports

The government's small-mindedness is suffocating and it's lack of imagination palpable.

The Guardian - Opinion

"His tales made very appealing listening," the real Jane wrote in her memoir Travelling to Infinity, "particularly because of his way of hiccoughing with laughter, almost suffocating himself, at the jokes he told, many of them against himself".

The Guardian - Film

Karen González said Germany had profited from the crisis, abandoned the EU's core principles and had "preferred patching things up than undertaking a true cure at the heart of these problems which are now suffocating countries like Spain, which could backfire".

The Guardian

The feminist blog Jezebel called the cover "hideous", with writer Tracie Egan Morrissey noting: "For a book all about a woman's clinical depression that's exacerbated by the suffocating gender stereotypes of which she's expected to adhere and the limited life choices she has as a woman, it's pretty … stupid to feature a low-rent retro wannabe pinup applying makeup".

The Guardian - Books

But the ECB will not start buying bonds to bring down the borrowing costs that are suffocating Spain, Italy, Portugal and Ireland.

The Guardian - Opinion

A revision of the bankruptcy law has helped to resolve some of the country's suffocating corporate debt.

The Economist

See articleFifty-four Burmese migrants died after suffocating in a lorry smuggling them into Thailand.

The Economist

Nine years of suffocating sanctions have, without doubt, helped a bunch of Iraqis, above all Saddam Hussein and his cronies, to prosper in several exceedingly evil ways.

The Economist

In January it signed a ceasefire with the Shan State Army-North, but has already breached it.On the back of its formal military role, the army has also built up a suffocating economic grip on the region.

The Economist

Kohl rejects suicide Daylight jobbery Chechnya's chop-chop justice Reprints Related items Could Flanders be reinvented?Sep 18th 1997 Catalan zealSep 18th 1997Russia is, perhaps, sui generis, because of its immense size and ethnic diversity, the exceptional brutality of its history, and the suffocating uniformity forced on its various peoples by communists and tsars.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "suffocating" to vividly describe environments, emotions, or situations that feel restrictive and oppressive, enhancing the reader's sense of discomfort or confinement.

Common error

Avoid using "suffocating" in overly casual or trivial contexts where simpler terms like "crowded" or "uncomfortable" would suffice, as it can sound melodramatic or exaggerated.

Linguistic Context

"Suffocating" primarily functions as a present participle or adjective, modifying nouns to describe something that causes a feeling of being restricted or overwhelmed. Ludwig examples show it used to describe both physical environments and emotional states.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Formal & Business

18%

Science

10%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the term "suffocating" is a versatile descriptor often employed to vividly portray feelings of oppression or physical restriction. As indicated by Ludwig AI, it is grammatically sound and sees frequent application within news and media, as well as formal business contexts. While suitable for both formal and informal usage, its potency is best harnessed in scenarios where a robust emotional or sensory impact is desired. When using "suffocating", consider the potential for melodramatic overuse in trivial contexts, and explore alternatives like "stifling" or "oppressive" to fine-tune the intended effect.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

suffocative

Directly related, nearly identical in meaning but less common.

stifling

Emphasizes the prevention of free expression or development.

oppressive

Highlights the burdensome or harsh nature of something.

smothering

Suggests a suppression or covering that prevents growth or expression.

overwhelming

Conveys a sense of being completely overcome by something.

constricting

Focuses on the limitation or restriction of movement or freedom.

inhibiting

Highlights the act of preventing or hindering progress.

repressive

Indicates a forceful suppression of dissent or freedom.

choking

Implies a restriction of breathing or vital functions.

stultifying

Indicates a dulling or inhibiting effect, especially on creativity or intellect.

FAQs

How can I use "suffocating" in a sentence?

You can use "suffocating" to describe a physical environment, like "The air in the room was "thick and suffocating"", or an emotional state, like "The pressure to succeed felt "incredibly suffocating"".

What are some alternatives to the word "suffocating"?

Depending on the context, alternatives to "suffocating" include "stifling", "oppressive", "smothering", or "overwhelming".

When is it appropriate to use "suffocating" instead of "stifling"?

"Suffocating" implies a more intense and immediate sense of being overwhelmed or unable to breathe, while "stifling" suggests a more gradual suppression or inhibition.

Is "suffocating" a formal or informal word?

"Suffocating" can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but it is often more effective in descriptive or emotional writing where a stronger impact is desired. It's more common in "news media" or descriptive prose.