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asfixiar

to asphyxiate

verb ahs-feek-SYAHR Rare

Also means

to suffocate

Usage Note

Asfixiar covers both literal suffocation and figurative smothering — a controlling relationship or an oppressive summer heat can asfixiar. The reflexive asfixiarse means 'to suffocate / to be stifled'. In journalism it often appears in headlines about economic strangulation: la deuda asfixia al país.

Examples

"El humo empezó a asfixiar a los bomberos."

Natural Translation

The smoke began to suffocate the firefighters.

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