suffocate

/ˈsʌfəkeɪt/
verb
  1. To die or cause someone to die because of lack of air or inability to breathe.
    • The firefighter rescued the child who was suffocating from smoke.
    • If you put a plastic bag over your head, you could suffocate.
    • The fish suffocated after the pond was covered with ice.
  2. To feel or cause someone to feel trapped or restricted, especially in a relationship or situation.
    • He worried that his constant attention would suffocate his new girlfriend.
    • She felt suffocated by her overprotective parents.
    • The strict rules at work began to suffocate his creativity.
Antonyms