stifle1

[stahy-fuh l] /ˈstaɪ fəl/
verb (used with object), stifled, stifling.
1.
to quell, crush, or end by force:
to stifle a revolt; to stifle free expression.
2.
to suppress, curb, or withhold:
to stifle a yawn.
3.
to kill by impeding respiration; smother.
verb (used without object), stifled, stifling.
4.
to suffer from difficulty in breathing, as in a close atmosphere.
5.
to become stifled or suffocated.
Origin
1350-1400; Middle English < Old Norse stīfla to stop up, dam, akin to stīfr stiff
Related forms
stifler, noun
unstifled, adjective
Synonyms
1. prevent, preclude, put down. 2. check. 3. suffocate, strangle, choke.
Antonyms
1, 2. encourage.

stifle2

[stahy-fuh l] /ˈstaɪ fəl/
noun
1.
(in a horse or other quadruped) the joint between the femur and the tibia, corresponding anatomically to the human knee.
Also called stifle joint.
Origin
1275-1325; Middle English < ?
Examples from the web for stifle
  • The government continues to stifle democracy and oppose privatization of money-losing state enterprises.
  • If you can't stifle a cough or sneeze in a tissue quickly enough, sneeze into the crook of your elbow.
  • But critics of the law say it is used to stifle political opponents, and that it threatens academic freedom.
  • Disciplines are seen as disconnected silos that stifle innovation and restrict inquiry.
  • All of that said, you don't want to stifle students' creativity and freedom to be self-directed.
  • Employing fear and intimidation to stifle speech and debate.
  • And these are the individuals in this case who tried to stifle complaints.
  • It conjures up old red-baiting techniques that stifle free speech and dissent on public issues.
  • The interruptions alone would stifle any thoughtful work toward publication.
  • Such a public debate among clerics will be difficult for the monarchy to stifle, and could significantly impact regime thinking.
British Dictionary definitions for stifle

stifle1

/ˈstaɪfəl/
verb
1.
(transitive) to smother or suppress: stifle a cough
2.
to feel or cause to feel discomfort and difficulty in breathing
3.
to prevent or be prevented from breathing so as to cause death
4.
(transitive) to crush or stamp out
Derived Forms
stifler, noun
Word Origin
C14: variant of stuflen, probably from Old French estouffer to smother

stifle2

/ˈstaɪfəl/
noun
1.
the joint in the hind leg of a horse, dog, etc, between the femur and tibia
Word Origin
C14: of unknown origin
Word Origin and History for stifle
v.

late 14c., "to choke, suffocate, drown," of uncertain origin, possibly an alteration of Old French estouffer "to stifle, smother," which may be from a Germanic source (cf. Old High German stopfon "to plug up, stuff"). Metaphoric sense is from 1570s. Related: Stifled; stifling.