asphyxia
noun
as·phyx·ia
as-ˈfik-sē-ə 
əs-
1
: a lack of oxygen or excess of carbon dioxide in the body that results in unconsciousness and often death and is usually caused by interruption of breathing or inadequate oxygen supply
2
: the state of being stifled or suppressed
As a patient in hospital I felt both anguish and asphyxia—the anguish of being confronted with dissolution, and asphyxia because I could not be heard.—
Oliver Sacks
Oliver SacksExamples of asphyxia in a Sentence
The cause of death was asphyxia.
Recent Examples on the Web
The medical examiner ruled the baby’s cause of death mechanical asphyxia and the manner of death homicide.
—Kc Baker, Peoplemag, 5 Apr. 2024
Kilman, of Columbia Falls, Montana, died of asphyxia by manual strangulation, according to preliminary autopsy results, the Taylor County Coroner’s Office said Monday.
—Marlene Lenthang, NBC News, 26 Feb. 2024
The autopsy report cited complications of asphyxia and excited delirium among the factors that contributed to Prude’s death.
—Kaitlyn Schwanemann, CNN, 15 Feb. 2024
According to the Marion County Coroner's Office, the 27-year-old died from asphyxia due to hanging.
—Sarah Nelson, The Indianapolis Star, 7 Mar. 2024
The Kentucky State Medical Examiner's Office determined Kilman's cause of death to be asphyxia by manual strangulation, the Campbellsville Police Department announced Monday.
—Christina Coulter, Fox News, 3 Mar. 2024
The child's cause of death was determined to be asphyxia due to suffocation.
—Bennett Durando, The Denver Post, 29 Feb. 2024
Rayan Mohammed, 18, of Bartlett, Illinois, died as a result of asphyxia from an accidental drowning, according to a release from the Lake County Coroner’s Office.
—Staff Report, Chicago Tribune, 30 July 2023
Campbellsville University student Josiah Kilman, 18, died from asphyxia by manual strangulation, the Campbellsville Police Department said Monday.
—Brammhi Balarajan, CNN, 26 Feb. 2024
Kc Baker, Peoplemag, 5 Apr. 2024
Kilman, of Columbia Falls, Montana, died of asphyxia by manual strangulation, according to preliminary autopsy results, the Taylor County Coroner’s Office said Monday.
—Marlene Lenthang, NBC News, 26 Feb. 2024
The autopsy report cited complications of asphyxia and excited delirium among the factors that contributed to Prude’s death.
—Kaitlyn Schwanemann, CNN, 15 Feb. 2024
According to the Marion County Coroner's Office, the 27-year-old died from asphyxia due to hanging.
—Sarah Nelson, The Indianapolis Star, 7 Mar. 2024
The Kentucky State Medical Examiner's Office determined Kilman's cause of death to be asphyxia by manual strangulation, the Campbellsville Police Department announced Monday.
—Christina Coulter, Fox News, 3 Mar. 2024
The child's cause of death was determined to be asphyxia due to suffocation.
—Bennett Durando, The Denver Post, 29 Feb. 2024
Rayan Mohammed, 18, of Bartlett, Illinois, died as a result of asphyxia from an accidental drowning, according to a release from the Lake County Coroner’s Office.
—Staff Report, Chicago Tribune, 30 July 2023
Campbellsville University student Josiah Kilman, 18, died from asphyxia by manual strangulation, the Campbellsville Police Department said Monday.
—Brammhi Balarajan, CNN, 26 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'asphyxia.' 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 asphyxia
Cite this Entry
“Asphyxia.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/asphyxia. Accessed 20 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
asphyxia
noun
as·phyx·ia
as-ˈfik-sē-ə
: a lack of oxygen or excess of carbon dioxide in the body usually caused by interruption of breathing or insufficient oxygen supply and resulting in unconsciousness and often death
Medical Definition
asphyxia
noun
as·phyx·ia
as-ˈfik-sē-ə, əs-
: a lack of oxygen or excess of carbon dioxide in the body that is usually caused by interruption of breathing and that causes unconsciousness compare suffocation
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