strangle

stran·gle

verb \ˈstraŋ-gəl\

stran·gledstran·gling \-g(ə-)liŋ\

Definition of STRANGLE

transitive verb

1

a : to choke to death by compressing the throat with something (as a hand or rope) : throttle

b : to obstruct seriously or fatally the normal breathing of

c : stifle

2

: to suppress or hinder the rise, expression, or growth of <repression strangles free speech>

intransitive verb

1

: to become strangled

2

: to die from or as if from interference with breathing

— stran·gler \-g(ə-)lər\ noun

Examples of STRANGLE

1. The weeds are strangling the plant.
2. The company is trying to strangle the smaller competition.

Origin of STRANGLE

Middle English, from Anglo-French estrangler, from Latin strangulare, from Greek strangalan, from strangalē halter — more at strain

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to STRANGLE

Synonyms

choke, stifle, smother, suffocate

Related Words

garrote (or garotte), throttle; asphyxiate; drown; croak [slang], destroy, dispatch, do in, fell, slay

Near Antonyms

breathe, exhale, expire, inhale, inspire; resuscitate, revive

Rhymes with STRANGLE

angle, bangle, dangle, jangle, mangel, mangle, spangle, tangle, wangle, wrangle

stran·gle

verb \ˈstraŋ-gəl\   (Medical Dictionary)

stran·gled; stran·gling \-g(ə-)liŋ\ (audio pronunciation)

Medical Definition of STRANGLE

transitive verb

1

: to choke to death by compressing the throat with something (as a hand or rope)

2

: to obstruct seriously or fatally the normal breathing of <the bone wedged in his throat and strangled him>

intransitive verb

1

: to become strangled : undergo a severe interference with breathing

2

: to die from interference with breathing