stifling

Definitions

Causing difficulty in breathing due to extreme heat or lack of fresh air.

Restraining, suppressing, or preventing the development or expression of something.

Examples

The stifling heat of the desert made it difficult to breathe.

She felt trapped by the stifling atmosphere of the small, conservative town.

He loosened his tie to escape the stifling humidity of the crowded room.

Synonyms

suffocating oppressive sweltering stuffy claustrophobic repressive constricting

Antonyms

refreshing airy breezy liberating ventilated invigorating open