stifle

/ˈstaɪfl̩/verb
Middle School
1

To make (an animal or person) unconscious or cause (an animal or person) to die by preventing breathing; to smother, to suffocate.

2

To cause (someone) difficulty in breathing, or a choking or gagging feeling.

3

To prevent (a breath, cough, or cry, or the voice, etc.) from being released from the throat.

4

To make (something) unable to be heard by blocking it with some medium.

5

To keep in, hold back, or repress (something).

6

To prevent (something) from being revealed; to conceal, to hide, to suppress.

7

To treat (a silkworm cocoon) with steam as part of the process of silk production.

8

To die of suffocation.

9

To smother; to make breathing difficult.

Sound Patterns & Rhymes

Rhymes

Words that share the same ending sound pattern

Alliteration

Words starting with the same consonant sound — used in poetry and prose to create rhythm, emphasis, and memorable phrasing (e.g. “Peter Piper picked”)

Assonance

Words sharing similar vowel sounds regardless of starting letter — creates internal melody in writing

Consonance

Words sharing similar consonant sound patterns — adds texture and cohesion to writing