asphyxiation
noun
as·phyx·i·ation
as-ˌfik-sē-ˈā-shən 
əs-
: deprivation of oxygen that can result in unconsciousness and often death : an act of asphyxiating a person or animal or a state of asphyxia : suffocation
The autopsy showed that the cause of death was asphyxiation.
Pliny the Elder did not die of falling pumice, but of asphyxiation, as he breathed noxious fumes from the eruption.—
Sidney Perkowitz
Sidney PerkowitzAsphyxiation at birth caused permanent impairment of his nerve-signaling system …—Ann Geracimos
Ann GeracimosIn rats, mice, and rabbits ciguatera poison causes death by asphyxiation.—Kwang-ming Li
Kwang-ming LiExamples of asphyxiation in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Victims died of asphyxiation and dozens more were injured.
—Eva Hartman, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2024
Daybell was also charged with murder in the death of his former wife, Tamara Daybell, who died Oct. 19, 2019, of asphyxiation, prosecutors previously revealed during Vallow's trial.
—Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 10 Apr. 2024
Tammy Daybell died in her sleep in November 2019, the untimely death first chalked up to natural causes but later determined to be from asphyxiation, according to an autopsy.
—CBS News, 1 Apr. 2024
Other victims die from asphyxiation, buried beneath the snow.
—Victor Mather, New York Times, 12 Mar. 2024
Alberts died by asphyxiation, and her death was ruled a homicide, according to Brown.
—Daniella Segura, Sacramento Bee, 8 Mar. 2024
Like the seven victims of this latest study, archaeologists believe that the vast majority of the victims died of asphyxiation, choking to death on the thick clouds of noxious gas and ash.
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 23 Aug. 2023
Animals dying slowly and painfully from starvation, dehydration, asphyxiation and blood loss.
—Brittny Mejia, Los Angeles Times, 4 Mar. 2024
An autopsy revealed she had been raped and the cause of death was asphyxiation, the statement said.
—Mallika Kallingal, CNN, 1 Feb. 2024
Eva Hartman, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2024
Daybell was also charged with murder in the death of his former wife, Tamara Daybell, who died Oct. 19, 2019, of asphyxiation, prosecutors previously revealed during Vallow's trial.
—Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 10 Apr. 2024
Tammy Daybell died in her sleep in November 2019, the untimely death first chalked up to natural causes but later determined to be from asphyxiation, according to an autopsy.
—CBS News, 1 Apr. 2024
Other victims die from asphyxiation, buried beneath the snow.
—Victor Mather, New York Times, 12 Mar. 2024
Alberts died by asphyxiation, and her death was ruled a homicide, according to Brown.
—Daniella Segura, Sacramento Bee, 8 Mar. 2024
Like the seven victims of this latest study, archaeologists believe that the vast majority of the victims died of asphyxiation, choking to death on the thick clouds of noxious gas and ash.
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 23 Aug. 2023
Animals dying slowly and painfully from starvation, dehydration, asphyxiation and blood loss.
—Brittny Mejia, Los Angeles Times, 4 Mar. 2024
An autopsy revealed she had been raped and the cause of death was asphyxiation, the statement said.
—Mallika Kallingal, CNN, 1 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'asphyxiation.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near asphyxiation
Cite this Entry
“Asphyxiation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/asphyxiation. Accessed 24 Apr. 2024.
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