Stifle
verb
To stop something from happening or developing.
She stifled a yawn during the boring lecture.
verb
To prevent someone from breathing by covering their mouth and nose.
He tried to stifle her with a pillow.
Usage tips
Disapproving
verb
To stop yourself from showing your emotions.
She stifled a laugh when he tripped over a chair.
verb
To stop something from happening or developing.
She stifled a yawn during the boring lecture.
verb
To prevent someone from breathing by covering their mouth and nose.
He tried to stifle her with a pillow.
Usage tips
Disapproving
verb
To stop yourself from showing your emotions.
She stifled a laugh when he tripped over a chair.
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Suppressing actions
Used when actions or processes are forcefully stopped or hindered intentionally.
The government tried to stifle the protests.
Pro Tip 2/3Negative connotation
Often implies a limitation of freedom or expression, typically viewed in a negative light.
Corporate policies can stifle creativity.
Pro Tip 3/3Subtle interruption
Can mean to interrupt something quietly or subtly, without drawing attention.
He stifled the rumors before they spread.
Pro Tip 1/3Suppressing actions
Used when actions or processes are forcefully stopped or hindered intentionally.
The government tried to stifle the protests.
Pro Tip 2/3Negative connotation
Often implies a limitation of freedom or expression, typically viewed in a negative light.
Corporate policies can stifle creativity.
Pro Tip 3/3Subtle interruption
Can mean to interrupt something quietly or subtly, without drawing attention.
He stifled the rumors before they spread.
Pro Tip 1/3Suppressing actions
Used when actions or processes are forcefully stopped or hindered intentionally.
The government tried to stifle the protests.
Pro Tip 2/3Negative connotation
Often implies a limitation of freedom or expression, typically viewed in a negative light.
Corporate policies can stifle creativity.
Pro Tip 3/3Subtle interruption
Can mean to interrupt something quietly or subtly, without drawing attention.
He stifled the rumors before they spread.
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Video examples
Tech's Impact On Young...
is that we're not allowing enough of that time. Because it's so easy to just pull out your phone and check the news or whatever. It doesn't matter. It stifles your ability to live within boredom. And boredom is important, because boredom then clicks in the creative activities. We don't allow ourselves to get bored anymore.
Video examples
Yuko Munakata: The...
these findings are not all that shocking. If you think about how the same parent could shape different children in different ways. One child might find it helpful when her mother provides structure. Her sister might find it's stifling. One child might think his parents are caring
Video examples
Small-business solutions...
guys the fact that we are stifled with the most non Census laws out there that's why we can't run business this is a swimming through molasses so today today so what can you do about that you know I told you today but someone said to me words had marked me the words wear
Video examples
The case against "good"...
These two deceptively tiny words stifle real description and honest communication. Look at them, just sitting there on this page, all smug and satisfied with their work. How dare they? You serve no purpose in our world, and we must rid ourselves of your influence.
Video examples
Why should you read...
Unlike most interstellar sci-fi, Herbert's humans conquered the stars without any computers. Following an ancient war with robots, humanity has forbidden the construction of any machine “in the likeness of a human mind.” But rather than stifling their expansion,
Video examples
Chimamanda Ngozi...
a world of happier men and happier women who are truer to themselves. And this is how to we must raise our daughters differently. We must also raise our sons differently. We do a great disservice to boys on how we raise them; we stifle the humanity of boys.
Video examples
Don't fail fast -- fail...
so that everyone knew they were a failure. Of course, these are extreme examples. But it is important to remember that when we excessively punish those who fail, we stifle innovation and business creation, the engines of economic growth in any country.
Video examples
How My Mind Came Back to...
I don't know if it's truly possible to express in words what it's like not to be able to communicate. Your personality appears to vanish into a heavy fog and all of your emotions and desires are constricted, stifled and muted within you.
Video examples
The secret to desire in...
protection, worry, responsibility for the other -- are sometimes the very ingredients that stifle desire. Because desire comes with a host of feelings that are not always such favorites of jealousy, possessiveness,
Video examples
Best of Penguins PIPE Top 5...
warm in cold seas now stifles her on these exposed rocks she must shade her eggs instead of keeping them warm
Video examples
Tech's Impact On Young...
is that we're not allowing enough of that time. Because it's so easy to just pull out your phone and check the news or whatever. It doesn't matter. It stifles your ability to live within boredom. And boredom is important, because boredom then clicks in the creative activities. We don't allow ourselves to get bored anymore.
Video examples
Yuko Munakata: The...
these findings are not all that shocking. If you think about how the same parent could shape different children in different ways. One child might find it helpful when her mother provides structure. Her sister might find it's stifling. One child might think his parents are caring
Video examples
Small-business solutions...
guys the fact that we are stifled with the most non Census laws out there that's why we can't run business this is a swimming through molasses so today today so what can you do about that you know I told you today but someone said to me words had marked me the words wear
Video examples
The case against "good"...
These two deceptively tiny words stifle real description and honest communication. Look at them, just sitting there on this page, all smug and satisfied with their work. How dare they? You serve no purpose in our world, and we must rid ourselves of your influence.
Video examples
Why should you read...
Unlike most interstellar sci-fi, Herbert's humans conquered the stars without any computers. Following an ancient war with robots, humanity has forbidden the construction of any machine “in the likeness of a human mind.” But rather than stifling their expansion,
Video examples
Chimamanda Ngozi...
a world of happier men and happier women who are truer to themselves. And this is how to we must raise our daughters differently. We must also raise our sons differently. We do a great disservice to boys on how we raise them; we stifle the humanity of boys.
Video examples
Don't fail fast -- fail...
so that everyone knew they were a failure. Of course, these are extreme examples. But it is important to remember that when we excessively punish those who fail, we stifle innovation and business creation, the engines of economic growth in any country.
Video examples
How My Mind Came Back to...
I don't know if it's truly possible to express in words what it's like not to be able to communicate. Your personality appears to vanish into a heavy fog and all of your emotions and desires are constricted, stifled and muted within you.
Video examples
The secret to desire in...
protection, worry, responsibility for the other -- are sometimes the very ingredients that stifle desire. Because desire comes with a host of feelings that are not always such favorites of jealousy, possessiveness,
Video examples
Best of Penguins PIPE Top 5...
warm in cold seas now stifles her on these exposed rocks she must shade her eggs instead of keeping them warm
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Jesmyn Ward
American Novelist
I could stifle my voice, or strip it. I know that I could, because we can do anything we put our minds to. I know that I could, but it feels very unnatural for me to strip my prose like that, in part because place is so important to me.
Quote examples
Killer Mike
American Musician
My biggest failure was trying to start and run a music label. The music industry was dying, and I wasn't ready to help other people the way that they needed to be helped. I was trying to, and I was stifling myself with it.
Quote examples
Shirley Henderson
Scottish Actress
It's such a stress always trying to get bigger houses and larger cars and better schools. Of course, parents want to give their children the best opportunities in life, but sometimes that can stifle them.
Quote examples
Nina Turner
American Politician
We tell people to go to college, but when they cross the stage, they cross the stage with a degree in one hand and debt in the other that stifles their ability to be able to live that good life.
Quote examples
Tariq Ali
Pakistani Historian
Young women and men who joined the far-left groups did so for the best of reasons. They wanted to change the world. Many fought against the stifling atmosphere in many groups.
Quote examples
Janet Frame
New Zealander Novelist
Divisions of the kind were fashionable at that time, and it was so easy to stifle one's need to help by deciding that help could neither be accepted nor understood.
Quote examples
Shepard Fairey
American Artist
The most important thing about intellectual property vs. creative expression is that copyright law was created not to stifle creativity but to encourage creativity.
Quote examples
Kimberly Guilfoyle
American Critic
I don't always think I am right, not by a long shot, but no one stifles me. When I care deeply about something, you are going to know.
Quote examples
Henry Miller
American Author
One of the reasons why so few of us ever act, instead of react, is because we are continually stifling our deepest impulses.
Quote examples
Richard Shelby
American Politician
What we should do is promote trade in the world, not try to stifle it.
Quote examples
Jesmyn Ward
American Novelist
I could stifle my voice, or strip it. I know that I could, because we can do anything we put our minds to. I know that I could, but it feels very unnatural for me to strip my prose like that, in part because place is so important to me.
Quote examples
Killer Mike
American Musician
My biggest failure was trying to start and run a music label. The music industry was dying, and I wasn't ready to help other people the way that they needed to be helped. I was trying to, and I was stifling myself with it.
Quote examples
Shirley Henderson
Scottish Actress
It's such a stress always trying to get bigger houses and larger cars and better schools. Of course, parents want to give their children the best opportunities in life, but sometimes that can stifle them.
Quote examples
Nina Turner
American Politician
We tell people to go to college, but when they cross the stage, they cross the stage with a degree in one hand and debt in the other that stifles their ability to be able to live that good life.
Quote examples
Tariq Ali
Pakistani Historian
Young women and men who joined the far-left groups did so for the best of reasons. They wanted to change the world. Many fought against the stifling atmosphere in many groups.
Quote examples
Janet Frame
New Zealander Novelist
Divisions of the kind were fashionable at that time, and it was so easy to stifle one's need to help by deciding that help could neither be accepted nor understood.
Quote examples
Shepard Fairey
American Artist
The most important thing about intellectual property vs. creative expression is that copyright law was created not to stifle creativity but to encourage creativity.
Quote examples
Kimberly Guilfoyle
American Critic
I don't always think I am right, not by a long shot, but no one stifles me. When I care deeply about something, you are going to know.
Quote examples
Henry Miller
American Author
One of the reasons why so few of us ever act, instead of react, is because we are continually stifling our deepest impulses.
Quote examples
Richard Shelby
American Politician
What we should do is promote trade in the world, not try to stifle it.
Example 1 of 10
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