suffocate vs obstruct

suffocate and obstruct both are verbs.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
suffocate	No	No	Yes	No
obstruct	No	No	Yes	No

As verbs, obstruct is a hypernym of suffocate; that is, obstruct is a word with a broader meaning than suffocate:

Other hypernyms of suffocate include block, close up, impede, jam, obturate, occlude.

suffocate (verb)	obstruct (verb)
struggle for breath; have insufficient oxygen intake	block passage through
feel uncomfortable for lack of fresh air	shut out from view or get in the way so as to hide from sight
be asphyxiated; die from lack of oxygen	hinder or prevent the progress or accomplishment of
suppress the development, creativity, or imagination of
become stultified, suppressed, or stifled
deprive of oxygen and prevent from breathing
impair the respiration of or obstruct the air passage of