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

see all synonyms and antonyms

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Rhymes with STRANGLE

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