1. causing difficulty in breathing; suffocating
2. excessively protective or controlling in a way that restricts freedom

1. the act of suffocating or suppressing something

Examples

• The smothering heat made it impossible to sleep.
• She felt trapped by her mother’s smothering attention.
• The thick smoke created a smothering atmosphere in the room.
• His smothering love drove his girlfriend away.
• The smothering of the fire took several hours.
• The child rebelled against the smothering rules at home.
• The smothering humidity made everyone uncomfortable.