What is stifling?

"Stifling" can refer to a few different concepts, depending on the context:

Environmental/Physical Sense: Stifling is often used to describe an atmosphere that feels oppressively hot, humid, and suffocating. For example, "The heat inside the car was stifling."

Emotional or Psychological Sense: It can describe a situation where someone feels restricted or oppressed, unable to express themselves or act freely. For instance, "She found the constant criticism stifling."

Social or Cultural Sense: Stifling can also describe an environment or situation that suppresses creativity, growth, or change. An example could be, "The company's rigid hierarchy was stifling innovation."

In all these senses, "stifling" conveys a feeling of being smothered, restricted, or unable to breathe freely, whether literally or metaphorically.