smother Synonyms
Another word for smother
• verb (Context 1)
To suffocate or extinguish someone or something by covering them completely and cutting off air.
"He used a heavy wool blanket to suffocate the flames before the fire could spread."
• verb (Context 2)
To overwhelm someone with an excessive amount of affection, care, or protection.
"Well-meaning parents sometimes overwhelm their children by refusing to let them make their own mistakes."
• verb (Context 3)
To cover food completely with a thick layer of sauce, gravy, onions, or another topping, or to cook it in a covered pan.
"The chef likes to blanket the grilled pork chops in caramelized onions and mushroom gravy."
• verb (Context 4)
To suppress or hold back a feeling, reaction, or action such as a yawn or laugh.
"She tried to stifle a laugh during the quiet lecture by covering her mouth."
• noun (Context 5)
A dense, suffocating cloud of smoke, dust, or fog, or a confused mass of things.
"The firefighters had to navigate through a thick pall of smoke to reach the upper floor."
Opposites of smother
The opposite of smother shifts depending on context. Common opposites include: