early 15c. (transitive), "deprive of air, choke, kill by preventing access of air to the lungs," also figurative, "stifle, smother, extinguish," from Latin suffocatus, past participle of suffocare "to choke" (see suffocation). Intransitive use, "become choked, stifled, or smothered," is from 1702. Related: Suffocated; suffocating.
The child suffocated herself with a plastic bag that the parents had left on the floor
His job suffocated him
The child suffocated under the pillow
suffice
sufficiency
sufficient
sufficiently
suffix
suffocate
suffocation
Suffolk
suffragan
suffrage
suffragette
