Stifle1. (v. t.) To stop the breath of by smothering; to choke; to suffocate; to cause the death of by such means; as, to stifle one with smoke or dust.
2. (n.) The joint next above the hock, and near the flank, in the hind leg of the horse and allied animals; the joint corresponding to the knee in man; -- called also stifle joint.
3. (v. t.) To stop; to extinguish; to deaden; to quench; as, to stifle the breath; to stifle a fire or flame.
4. (v. t.) To suppress the manifestation or report of; to smother; to conceal from public knowledge; as, to stifle a story; to stifle passion.
5. (v. i.) To die by reason of obstruction of the breath, or because some noxious substance prevents respiration.
Thesaurus Entries
abate, allay, alleviate, asphyxiate, assuage, attemper, bake, bank the fire, bar, barricade, be in heat, black out, blaze, block, block up, blockade, bloom, blow out, blunt, boil, bolt, bottle up, broil, burke, burn, censor, chasten, check, chock, choke, choke off, clamp down on, close, close off, close tight, close up, combust, constipate, constrain, constrict, control, cook, cork, cork up, cover up, crack down on, crowd, crush, curb, damp, damp down, dampen, de-emphasize, deaden, debar, demolish, destroy, diminish, dog, douse, downplay, drown, dull, dumbfound, extenuate, extinguish, flame, flame up, flare, flare up, flicker, flush, fry, gag, garrote, gasp, glow, hold back, hold down, hold in, hugger-mugger, hush, hush up, hush-hush, incandesce, inhibit, jam, jump on, keep back, keep down, keep under, keep within bounds, kill, lay, lenify, lessen, lighten, lock, mitigate, moderate, modulate, muffle, mute, muzzle, obstruct, obtund, occlude, out, pack, palliate, pant, parch, play down, pour water on, prevent, put down, put out, put to silence, quash, quell, quench, quiet, quieten, radiate heat, reduce, reduce the temperature, repress, restrain, roast, scald, scorch, seethe, shimmer with heat, shush, shut down on, shut off, shut out, shut tight, silence, simmer, sit down on, sit on, slack, slacken, slow down, smash, smolder, smother, snuff, snuff out, sober, sober down, soft-pedal, soften, spark, squash, squeeze, squeeze shut, squelch, stagnate, stamp out, stanch, steam, stew, still, stop, stop the breath, stop up, strangle, strangulate, strike dumb, stultify, subdue, sublimate, suffocate, suppress, sweat, swelter, tame, temper, throttle, toast, tone down, trammel, trample out, trample underfoot, tune down, underplay, weaken, withhold