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Definition of asphyxiate

asphyxiate

/æsˈfɪk.si.eɪt/
as · phyx · i · ate
Adjective:asphyxiating
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Past Simple:asphyxiated
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Past Participle:asphyxiated
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Present Participle:asphyxiating
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asphyxiate Lexical Profile

asphyxiate Game Scores & Validity

• verb

1

To kill or make someone unconscious by depriving them of oxygen; to cause or undergo suffocation.

Example

"Poor ventilation in the subterranean tunnel caused the trapped miners to nearly asphyxiate before rescue crews arrived."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Nearby Words

asperger's
asphalt
asphyxia
asphyxiate
asphyxiation
aspic
aspirant

Word Origin & Etymology

Derived in the late 18th century from the medical noun 'asphyxia', which comes from Ancient Greek 'asphyxia' (a stopping of the pulse), formed from the privative prefix 'a-' (without) and 'sphyxis' (pulse or throbbing).

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Asphyxiate. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/asphyxiate
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