1. people or things that suppress, restrain, or prevent the development or expression of something
Usage: plural form of stifler

Examples

• The strict regulations were seen as stiflers of innovation in the tech industry.
• Parents who are overly protective can become stiflers of their children’s independence.
• The company identified several stiflers of productivity in their workflow.
• Critics argued that the new policies were stiflers of free speech.
• Heat and humidity are major stiflers of outdoor athletic performance.
• The bureaucratic procedures acted as stiflers of small business growth.