Suffocate itself, perhaps (6)
I believe the answer is:
stifle
'suffocate' is the definition.
(I know that suffocate is a more specific form of the action stifle)
'itself perhaps' is the wordplay.
'perhaps' is an anagram indicator.
'itself' is an anagram of 'STIFLE'.
(Other definitions for stifle that I've seen before include "Asphyxiate - itself (anag)" , "Repress, choke" , "Smother, check" , "Have difficulty breathing" , "Muffle, suppress" .)