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   suffocate

   /ˈsʌfəkeɪt/

   verb

   • 1. die or cause to die from lack of air or inability to breathe: "they suffocated in their sleep" Similar smotherasphyxiatestiflechokestranglethrottlestrangulatebe smotheredasphyxiatebe stifled
   • ▪ have or cause to have difficulty in breathing: "he was suffocating, his head jammed up against the back of the sofa" Similar be breathlessbe short of airstruggle for airbe too hotswelterinformal:roastbakeboil
   • ▪ feel or cause to feel trapped and oppressed: "he said he'd suffocate if he remained in this house for another hour"

   Word Origin late 15th century (earlier (late Middle English) as suffocation): from Latin suffocat- ‘stifled’, from the verb suffocare, from sub- ‘below’ + fauces ‘throat’.

   Scrabble Points: 17

   • S

     1

   • U

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   • F

     4

   • F

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   • O

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   • C

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   • A

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   • E

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