smother
smother — verb
1. to end a person's life by pressing something over their mouth and nose so that a
to end a person's life by pressing something over their mouth and nose so that air cannot reach their lungs
Sari's neighbour was found dead in bed, smothered with a pillow.
passive: be smothered with [object]
The nurse admitted she had tried to smother the elderly patient under a cushion.
smother + person + under [object]
In the crime film, the killer uses a plastic bag to smother his victims.
David tried to fight back as his attacker attempted to smother him with a blanket.
The autopsy revealed that the woman had been smothered while she was unconscious.
- suffocate
more general; can happen without direct action (e.g., in a sealed room)
- asphyxiate
more technical/medical; used in formal reports
- choke
blockage inside the throat, not external covering
- resuscitate
to bring someone back to life after they stopped breathing
文法句型
smother + person
smother + person + with + object
be smothered
用法筆記
Frequently appears in passive constructions in crime reporting and legal contexts.
常見錯誤
2. to cause a plant or other living thing to die by covering it so completely that
to cause a plant or other living thing to die by covering it so completely that light and air cannot reach it
The ivy slowly smothered the old rose bushes growing against the garden wall.
plant smothers plant
Minho's vegetable patch was ruined when fast-growing weeds smothered the tomato plants.
weeds smother + plant
Thick layers of wet leaves can smother the grass if they are not raked up.
The farmer worried that the kudzu vines would smother every native tree on the land.
- nurture
to help something grow
文法句型
smother + plant/vegetation
weeds/vines smother + plant
用法筆記
Used primarily in gardening, farming, and ecological contexts. The subject is often an invasive plant or natural material.
3. to extinguish a fire by placing a material over it so that oxygen can no longer
to extinguish a fire by placing a material over it so that oxygen can no longer reach the flames
Esteban grabbed a heavy blanket and used it to smother the flames on the stove.
smother + flames + with [object]
A sand bucket near the campfire lets anyone smother the embers before leaving.
smother + fire/embers + with [material]
The chef quickly smothered the small grease fire by sliding a lid over the pan.
Firefighters warned that water will not smother an oil fire and could make the flames worse.
Cole poured dirt over the glowing coals to smother the last traces of the bonfire.
- extinguish
more formal; includes methods other than covering (e.g., water, chemicals)
- stifle
less common for fire; more often used for sounds or feelings
- douse
uses liquid, not covering
文法句型
smother + fire/flames
smother + fire + with + object
4. to stop a feeling, idea, or activity from developing, growing, or being shown op
to stop a feeling, idea, or activity from developing, growing, or being shown openly
Bilal tried to smother his anger during the meeting and spoke calmly instead.
smother + emotion (anger)
The government used new laws to smother any public criticism of the policy.
smother + abstract noun (criticism)
Ayesha felt that the rigid school rules smothered the children's natural creativity.
When laughter broke out in the library, the librarian shot a look that smothered it.
The protest was quickly smothered by police before it could reach the city centre.
文法句型
smother + feeling/emotion
smother + idea/creativity
smother + protest/rebellion
用法筆記
Subject is often an authority figure, institution, or a person's self-control. The verb carries a negative tone — the thing being stopped is seen as natural or legitimate.
常見錯誤
5. to show a child or loved one so much care and attention that they feel unable to
to show a child or loved one so much care and attention that they feel unable to be independent or make their own choices
Nellie loves her son deeply but tries not to smother him with constant advice.
smother + person + with + abstract noun
Some parents smother their children by doing everything for them instead of letting them try.
smother + children + by + doing something
After the accident, Tunde felt his girlfriend was smothering him with worry and phone calls.
Wren moved out of her parents' house because their constant attention was smothering her.
- overprotect
more neutral; focuses on protection rather than love
- coddle
suggests treating someone as too delicate or weak
- mollycoddle
informal and slightly old-fashioned; overly indulgent
- neglect
to fail to give enough care or attention
文法句型
smother + child/person
smother + person + with + love/attention
用法筆記
Used critically — calling someone 'smothering' implies their care has become harmful. Often appears in discussions of parenting styles.
常見錯誤
6. to spread a thick layer of something over a surface or object, often in a way th
to spread a thick layer of something over a surface or object, often in a way that seems excessive
The steak was smothered in a rich mushroom sauce and served with roasted potatoes.
passive: be smothered in [food]
Élise smothered the toast with butter and honey until it was dripping.
smother + object + with [spread]
Sivan's grandmother always smothers the cake in a thick layer of chocolate frosting.
The children smothered the drawing with glitter and glue until the paper was barely visible.
After the beach trip, we were smothered in sand and sunscreen from head to toe.
- scrape
to remove a layer from a surface
文法句型
smother + object + in/with + substance
be smothered in/with
用法筆記
Very common in cooking contexts (smothered in sauce, gravy, cream). Also used jokingly or dramatically for any thick coating.
smother — noun
1. a thick, heavy cloud of smoke that makes it difficult to see or breathe
a thick, heavy cloud of smoke that makes it difficult to see or breathe
A thick smother of smoke filled the hallway after the fire broke out.
smother of + smoke
The miners could barely see through the smother of dust inside the tunnel.
smother of + dust
Thick black smother rose from the burning tyres and choked the neighbourhood.
Pedestrians coughed as a smother of exhaust fumes hung over the busy street.
用法筆記
Rare in modern speech; mostly found in literary or descriptive writing. The countable use ('a smother') is especially uncommon.
2. a large, confusing collection of different things or ideas all mixed together
a large, confusing collection of different things or ideas all mixed together
His desk was a smother of papers, coffee cups, and old newspapers.
smother of + mixed items
The novel begins in a smother of confusing flashbacks and unexplained events.
smother of + abstract elements
Out of the smother of voices in the market, one shout rose above the rest.
The attic was a smother of old toys, broken furniture, and forgotten letters.
用法筆記
Very rare and literary. Often used with 'of' followed by a plural noun describing the mixed elements.