My sister likes to smother her toasts in butter.
Source: tatoeba (2396344)
Smother
/ˈsməðər/
Synonyms for "smother" (265 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (53)
Strong matches (80)
covercover upcrack down oncratecrushcurrydampdamp downdampende emphasizede-emphasizedeadendiminishdousedownplaydrowndrubdullemboxembrace
Show 46 more words
encapsulateencaseenfoldenshroudenvelopenwrapextenuateextinguishfamishflameflame upflareflare upflickerflushfrygaggarrotegaspglowgulphidehold backhold downhugger muggerhugger-muggerhushhush uphush-hushincandesceinhibitinundateinvestjump onkeepkeep backkeep downkeep underkeep within boundskilllambastelaplaylenifylessenlick
Noun(12 words)
Verb(2 words)
Related words (132)
lightenmaskmitigatemoderatemodulatemufflemurdermuzzleobtundodoutovercomeoverwhelmpackpackagepalliatepantparchplay downpour water on
Show 79 more words
put downput outquashquellquenchradiate heatreducereduce the temperaturereinrepressrestrainroastroutscaldscorchseethesheatheshellacshimmer with heatshowershroudshushshut downshut down onsilencesimmersimmer downsit down onsit onslackslackenslow downsmashsmearsmoldersnuffsnuff outsobersober downsoftensparksquashsquelchstamp outstanchstarvesteamstewstiflestop the breathstranglestultifysubduesublimatesuffocatesuppresssurroundswaddleswallowswathesweatsweltertake the edge offtametemperthrashthrottletoasttone downtrample outtrample underfoottrimtune downunderplayweakenwhipwrapwrap aboutwrap up
Noun(16 words)
Verb(15 words)
Adjective(2 words)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: abate, allay, alleviate, asphyxiate, asphyxiate.
- Sentence evidence is available for smother, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from moby, wordnet, derived_reverse, opengloss, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "smother".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "smother"
Keep "smother" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "smother" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "smother", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "smother" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
20 entriesbottle upconditioncooking methodcovercoveringculinary techniquedisorderdisorderlinessextinguishextinguishingfire controlfumeinhibitkilloverloadsmoke
Showing 16 of 20 words.
More specific
12 entriesasphyxiation by smokeblanket smotheringbureaucratic smotheringcoatingdust layerpillow suffocationpraise smotheringsmoke layersmothered beefsmothered chickensmothered porksuffocation in enclosed space
Collocations
10 entriesbureaucratic smotheringdense smotherpillow smotheringsmother of dustsmother of smokesmother with gravysmothered chickensmothering heatsmothering silencesmothering smoke
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
3 entriessimilar
3 entriesSample sentences
20 total sentences available.
Sami used a pillow to smother Layla.
Source: tatoeba (6574875)
Where women love each other, men learn to smother their mutual dislike.
Source: tatoeba (6888742)
Singapore's prime minister says severe air pollution caused by forest fires in neighboring Indonesia may continue to smother the city-state for weeks or months.
Source: tatoeba (11056740)
Showing 4 of 20 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "smother"?
Closest matches include abate, allay, alleviate, asphyxiate, asphyxiate.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "smother"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.