What does smotherer mean?
A smotherer is a person or thing that causes something to be smothered, especially by depriving it of air or by suppressing its activity. The word is commonly used for a person or device that puts out a fire, but it can also describe something that stifles sound, speech, or another ongoing process. In figurative use, “a smotherer of creativity” or “a smotherer of conversation” suggests an influence that gradually weakens or prevents expression. Although “smotherer” is a fairly ordinary noun, it can sound more forceful than the more general “suppressor,” particularly when the suppression is physical or immediate. It is understood in both British and American English.
nounA person or thing that smothers, especially someone or something that suppresses a fire, sound, voice, or other activity.
- A person or thing that smothers, especially one that extinguishes flames or suppresses something.
"The blanket acted as a quick smotherer of the small flames."
"The firefighter used the fire blanket as a smotherer."
"His endless interruptions acted as a smotherer of the conversation."
The regular plural is used for multiple people or things that perform the role described.
"The village trained several smoke smotherers to respond quickly to fires."
A smotherer does more than put out a fire: the word can describe anything that quietly suppresses a sound, feeling, or opportunity.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does smotherer come from?
The word “smotherer” was formed in English by adding the agent suffix “-er” to “smother.” “Smother” is an English verb and noun meaning to suppress by covering, depriving of air, or putting out, and is related in its history and imagery to smoke and smoky conditions. The suffix “-er” has long been used in English to form nouns denoting a person or thing that performs an action.
Related word forms
How smotherer is actually used
Usually literal when referring to a person or device that extinguishes flames, but it can also be figurative when describing something that suppresses speech, activity, or opportunities.