General Use:
* The thick smoke stifled our breathing and made it hard to see.
* The government's policies stifled innovation and economic growth.
* She tried to stifle a yawn, but it was too late.
Figurative Use:
* He stifled his emotions, refusing to let anyone see his sadness.
* The oppressive heat stifled any desire to go outside.
* The dictator's regime stifled all forms of dissent.
Formal Use:
* The lack of funding stifled the project's progress.
* The company's regulations stifled creativity and innovation.
* The strict rules stifled any sense of individual expression.