The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 9 letter word SMOTHERED
I've seen this crossword clue in The Daily Telegraph
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Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "stifled" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case stifled = smothered.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does SMOTHERED mean?
SMOTHERED verb- To suffocate; stifle; obstruct, more or less completely, the respiration of something or someone.
- To extinguish or deaden, as fire, by covering, overlaying, or otherwise excluding the air.
- To reduce to a low degree of vigor or activity; suppress or do away with; extinguish
- In cookery: to cook in a close dish.
- To daub or smear.
- To be suffocated.
- To breathe with great difficulty by reason of smoke, dust, close covering or wrapping, or the like.
- (of a fire) to burn very slowly for want of air; smolder.
- To perish, grow feeble, or decline, by suppression or concealment; be stifled; be suppressed or concealed.
- To get in the way of a kick of the ball.
- To get in the way of a kick of the ball, preventing it going very far. When a player is kicking the ball, an opponent who is close enough will reach out with his hands and arms to get over the top of it, so the ball hits his hands after leaving the kicker's boot, dribbling away.