1. to kill or cause to die by preventing from breathing; to suffocate
2. to cover thickly or completely; to overwhelm
3. to suppress or stifle something

Examples

• The thick smoke smothers the flames.
• She smothers her children with too much attention.
• The pillow accidentally smothers the small animal.
• Heavy snow smothers the garden plants.
• He smothers his anger and stays calm.
• The sauce smothers the taste of the meat.
• Overprotective parenting sometimes smothers a child’s independence.