Their intellectual narrowness was [kvävande] .

suffocating stifling oppressive

The garden was full of [sniglar] .

snails slugs

Info: "Snails" have shells, "slugs" don't.

Why be so silly as to listen to such [rykten] ?

rumors rumours gossip

Info: BrE "rumours", AmE "rumors"

Although [förgäves] , their resistance inspired subsequent generations of Indians.

futile hopeless

Info: The phrase "in vain" would of course also work.

After I got stung by that [geting] , I lost interest in the party.

wasp yellowjacket hornet

Info: A "hornet" is the biggest type, and a "yellowjacket" quite small.