adjective
- suppressed or restrained; prevented from being expressed or developed
Usage: often describes emotions, creativity, or growth
Examples
- She felt stifled by the strict rules at her new school.
- His creativity was stifled by the demanding corporate environment.
- The stifled laughter could barely be contained during the serious meeting.
- Many artists feel stifled when they can’t express their true vision.
- The stifled economy showed little growth for several years.
- Her stifled dreams of becoming a musician haunted her for decades.