stifle
sti-fle
verb
To hold back or suppress a sound, action, or emotion.
"She tried to stifle a giggle."
verb
To prevent something from developing, being expressed, or continuing freely.
"Excessive bureaucracy can stifle innovation."
verb
To make someone unable to breathe properly; to suffocate or smother.
"The thick smoke threatened to stifle them."
Thesaurus
Synonyms: knee, dampen, asphyxiate, choke, suffocate, muffle, repress, smother, strangle