Stifle

Stifle means to restrain or suppress something, like an emotion, a sound, or an action. It’s like holding back or keeping something from being expressed or released. For instance, if you suddenly feel the urge to sneeze in a quiet place, you try to stifle the sneeze by covering your mouth and nose, or even by holding your breath. You’re trying to restrain or suppress the sneeze to avoid causing a disturbance in the quiet environment.

Similarly, you can stifle a laugh when you find something funny in a serious situation, like during a formal meeting or a somber event. You may try to hold back the laughter by covering your mouth or biting your lip, so as not to disrupt the seriousness of the moment. Emotionally, you might stifle your anger or frustration in certain situations, choosing to keep it inside rather than expressing it outwardly.