0
Gene93 Posted 11 years ago
Vocabulary
synonyms for stifle
Hello,
Stifle was used in the original, but can we also use: eliminate, impede, obstruct, quash in this sentence:
"The internet blew up, accusing EA of making a deal that would .....creativity/innovation, raise prices and more".
I think that obstruct and impede might work and impede is stronger. I am not sure about quash/squash, but eliminate might be okay. Which one would require more time "stifle" or "eliminate"? I think only context can make that clear.
Thank you
Stifle was used in the original, but can we also use: eliminate, impede, obstruct, quash in this sentence:
"The internet blew up, accusing EA of making a deal that would .....creativity/innovation, raise prices and more".
I think that obstruct and impede might work and impede is stronger. I am not sure about quash/squash, but eliminate might be okay. Which one would require more time "stifle" or "eliminate"? I think only context can make that clear.
Thank you
Top answer
In my experience, ‘stifle’ has been used in the sense of awkwardly trying to hide a yawn or disguise amusement. The yawn is a natural symptom of boredom or fatigue, so stifling it is a temporary remedy. When you try to stifle a cough in order to be polite, you might make it worse.
- In my experience, ‘stifle’ has been used in the sense of awkwardly trying to hide a yawn or disguise amusement.
- The yawn is a natural symptom of boredom or fatigue, so stifling it is a temporary remedy.
- When you try to stifle a cough in order to be polite, you might make it worse.
- Thus, the ‘urge’ to be creative or innovative will not go away, but it can be temporarily suppressed.
- ‘Obstruct’ and ‘impede’ can be visualized as getting in the way or making something more difficult to accomplish—and I think that is not the same as ‘eliminate’, which is permanent.
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
5 Answers
0
In my experience, ‘stifle’ has been used in the sense of awkwardly trying to hide a yawn or disguise amusement. The yawn is a natural symptom of boredom or fatigue, so stifling it is a temporary remedy. When you try to stifle a cough in order to be polite, you might make it worse. Thus, the ‘urge’ to be creative or innovative will not go away, but it can be temporarily suppressed.
‘Obstruct
‘Obstruct
00
Can we squash innovation/creativity? I think its meaning would be similar to eliminate, but maybe not as bad.
00
Gene93Can we squash innovation/creativity?I doubt it, but you can try. I wonder if anyone tried to squash Bill Gates? If you squash a pumpkin, there isn't much to salvage. Your choice, however.
00
I have noticed that a lot of verbs can be used in this collocation, but I am afraid that if I use any of them in a real life situation I might get into a lot of trouble (Yes, that's happened to me). I even say "destroy innovation" earlier today.
As far as I know, stifle is also a synonym for suffocate. A friend of mine asked me which one would be more severe in my opinion "eliminate" or "sti
As far as I know, stifle is also a synonym for suffocate. A friend of mine asked me which one would be more severe in my opinion "eliminate" or "sti
00
Synonyms for stifle vary in suitability depending on the topic. Getting into trouble varies according to whom you are representing when you make a statement and how public it is. Please don’t take our advice regarding sentence wording as a safety net.
Having said that, I agree that one can stifle another person by strangling them (cutting off their air supply). As I hinted, in my Bill Gate
Having said that, I agree that one can stifle another person by strangling them (cutting off their air supply). As I hinted, in my Bill Gate
0
Related Questions