Looking up...
stifling
/ˈstaɪflɪŋ/
extremely hot and humid
The stifling heat made it impossible to sleep.
The air was so hot and thick with moisture that sleeping was difficult.
general
Extremely hot and humid, making it difficult to breathe comfortably.
We escaped the stifling city for the cool mountains.
We left the hot, uncomfortable city for a cooler place.
Commonly used to describe weather or indoor environments with poor ventilation.
formal
Restricting freedom of expression, action, or development; oppressive.
The artist rebelled against the stifling conventions of the era.
The artist fought against the restrictive rules of that time.
Often used in political, social, or artistic contexts to describe suppression.
Collocations
stifling heatextremely hot and muggy weatherstifling atmospherean environment that feels oppressive or boringstifling boredomextreme, dull boredom that feels suffocating
Antonyms
Pro Tip
Physical vs. Figurative
Use 'stifling' for weather when it is both hot AND humid. Use it for situations when rules or people prevent you from being free or creative.
Gold Rule
Context Check
Ensure the context implies a lack of air (physical) or a lack of freedom (figurative). Do not use for simple cold or dry heat.
Word Origin
From the verb 'stifle' (Old English stīfan 'to stiffen, make rigid'), originally meaning to stop breathing or smother, later extended to mean suppressing or restricting.
Usage Notes
Can describe physical conditions (weather) or abstract concepts (rules, atmosphere). It carries a negative connotation of discomfort or restriction.
Word Breakdown
stifl-
to stop breathing/smother
root-ing
present participle/adjective suffix
suffixEnglish Dictionary