Asphyxiate (Verb)
Meaning 1
Be asphyxiated; die from lack of oxygen; "The child suffocated under the pillow".
Classification
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc..
Examples
- Carbon monoxide can asphyxiate people in enclosed spaces without them realizing it's happening.
- In the fire, they risk being trapped and asphyxiated by smoke inhalation and lack of oxygen.
- The worker nearly asphyxiated in the collapsed mine shaft before rescuers reached him.
- If you cover your mouth and nose tight enough, you can cause yourself to asphyxiate.
- A person sleeping on their stomach can asphyxiate if their face is pressed against a soft pillow.
Synonyms
Hypernyms
- Pop Off
- Croak
- Die
- Pass
- Expire
- Decease
- Cash In One's Chips
- Conk
- Choke
- Buy The Farm
- Exit
- Drop Dead
- Pass Away
- Go
- Give-up The Ghost
- Kick The Bucket
- Snuff It
Hyponyms
Related Words
Meaning 2
Impair the respiration of or obstruct the air passage of; "The foul air was slowly suffocating the children".
Classification
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging.
Examples
- The swarm of bees threatening to asphyxiate the hikers who disturbed their nest escaped unaffected due to a rescue team's quick response.
- Inhaling high levels of carbon monoxide can asphyxiate a person within minutes, emphasizing the importance of a smoke detector.
- Smoke filled the air-tight room quickly, likely to asphyxiate anyone without immediate rescue.
- The victim's body was found after several days, showing evidence of being asphyxiated by some type of cloth tightly covering the mouth and nose.
- If medical care was not provided promptly to those trapped in the collapsed mine shaft, the air quality could eventually asphyxiate the miners.
Synonyms
Hypernyms
Related Words
Meaning 3
Deprive of oxygen and prevent from breathing; "Othello smothered Desdemona with a pillow"; "The child suffocated herself with a plastic bag that the parents had left on the floor".
Classification
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging.
Examples
- The massive weight of the wreckage asphyxiated the driver, trapping them inside the crushed vehicle.
- Carbon monoxide can asphyxiate people in enclosed spaces without warning signs or smell.
- Exhaust gases released from generators in enclosed spaces can asphyxiate occupants.
- Lack of adequate ventilation in the mine shaft caused hazardous gases to build up and asphyxiate the trapped miners.
- Firefighters entering smoke-filled buildings must be careful not to asphyxiate on toxic fumes and particulates.