What is the meaning of stifling?

noun

• Forceful prevention; putting down by power or authority.
  • usage: "the suppression of heresy"; "the quelling of the rebellion"; "the stifling of all dissent"
  • synonyms: suppression, crushing, quelling

verb

• Conceal or hide.
  • usage: "smother a yawn"; "muffle one's anger"; "strangle a yawn"
  • synonyms: smother, stifle, strangle, muffle, repress
• Smother or suppress.
  • usage: "Stifle your curiosity"
  • synonyms: stifle, dampen
• Impair the respiration of or obstruct the air passage of.
  • usage: "The foul air was slowly suffocating the children"
  • synonyms: suffocate, stifle, asphyxiate, choke
• Be asphyxiated; die from lack of oxygen.
  • usage: "The child suffocated under the pillow"
  • synonyms: suffocate, stifle, asphyxiate

adjective

• Characterized by oppressive heat and humidity.
  • usage: "the summer was sultry and oppressive"; "the stifling atmosphere"; "the sulfurous atmosphere preceding a thunderstorm"
  • synonyms: sultry, sulfurous, sulphurous