stifle

Regulations on children stifled creativity.

对孩子们制定的各种规定压制了创造力。

Instead of protecting speech and encouraging diversity and innovative thinking, the tenure system often stifles them: younger professors must win the approval of established colleagues for tenure, encouraging like-mindedness and sometimes inhibiting the free flow of ideas.

终身教职制度不但不能保护言论、鼓励多样性和创新思维，反而常常会扼杀它们：年轻的教授要想获得终身教职，必须得到资深同事的认可，这就鼓励了有相同想法的人，有时还会抑制思想的自由流动。

It is best to stifle curiosity and leave birds' nests alone.

最好忍住好奇心，别碰鸟巢。

I felt I was stifling in the airless room.

在那间闷气的屋子里我感觉都快憋死了。

Most of the victims were stifled by the fumes.

多数受害者是因烟雾窒息而死的。