What does smothered mean?
Smothered describes something covered, overwhelmed, or deprived of air, as in smoke or fog that smothers a space. It also has a figurative meaning of suppressing or overwhelming something, such as a protest, a voice, or a signal. In culinary contexts, food can be smothered with cheese, sauce, or another ingredient, meaning generously covered. The word often conveys a sense of suffocation, concealment, or forceful restraint. Its vivid image makes it useful both for physical descriptions, such as thick smoke or fog, and for social and political situations in which criticism or expression is being suppressed.
adjectiveCovered, obscured, or deprived of air in a way that suffocates. It can also describe something suppressed, restrained, or made difficult to notice.
- Covered or surrounded so completely that air is restricted.
- Obscured or overwhelmed by something such as smoke, fog, or heat.
- Suppressed, restrained, or prevented from being heard or noticed.
"The thick fog smothered the town, reducing the streetlights to faint haloes in the mist."
"The child began to cough in the smoke-filled room, where the flames had been smothered."
"The government attempted to smother criticism of the new policy."
"The berries were smothered in a rich sauce and served with warm bread."
A thing can be smothered without fire: fog can smother a city, silence can smother a protest, and cheese can smother a pizza.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does smothered come from?
The word comes from the Old English verb smōthran, meaning to suffocate or smother, related to Old English smōthe, meaning smooth or close-fitting. In Middle English, the word developed into forms including smother, with smothered emerging as the past participle and adjective. The same Germanic root also underlies related English forms such as smothery, while the word also developed figurative senses meaning to suppress or conceal.
Related word forms
How smothered is actually used
The word is commonly figurative, especially for suppressing a sound, protest, or competing influence. When used for food, it usually means generously covered or filled with a topping or sauce.
Easily confused with smothered
Smothered means covered, suffocated, or suppressed, whereas muffled describes a sound that is reduced or made less distinct.