Synonyms for asphyxia
- noun
Most common
apnea US suffocation
Definitions
- n. 1
Loss of consciousness due to the interruption of breathing and consequent anoxia.
Asphyxia may result from choking, drowning, electric shock, or injury.
Related words
- Word family
- asphyxiate asphyxiation
Forms
- Plural
- asphyxias → suffocations, apneas…
Choose the right word
Asphyxia is a special form of syncope resulting from partial or total suspension of respiration, as in strangulation, drowning, or inhalation of noxious gases.
J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)
Example sentences
- apnea Sleep apnea occurs most often when sleeping in a supine position.
- suffocation Warning! Risk of suffocation. To avoid danger don't keep it near babies.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| asphyxia | falling | |
| apnea | rising | |
| suffocation | steady |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 5 letters
- apnea3
- 6 letters
- apnoea
- 11 letters
- suffocation4
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (apnea3 = 3 syllables).