Stifling Mama's kept in Carol (10)

I believe the answer is:

smothering

'stifling' is the definition.
('smother' can be a synonym of 'stifle')

'mama's kept in carol' is the wordplay.
'mama' becomes 'mother'.
'kept in' indicates putting letters inside.
'carol' becomes 'sing' (I've seen this in other clues).
'mother' inserted into 'sing' is 'SMOTHERING'.

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.

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