1
as in to choke
to be or cause to be killed by lack of breathable air
the gull got tangled in a piece of fishing line on the beach and was strangled
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
3
as in to stifle
to refrain from openly showing or uttering
strangled a gasp of surprise upon hearing the news
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of strangle
Police allegedly found a thin cord, believed to be used to strangle her, near her neck, the court documents say.
—
Kyle Werner, Des Moines Register, 6 Jan. 2026
This month, 11 alleged TdA members were indicted in New Mexico, accused of kidnapping, brutally interrogating and strangling to death a man in Albuquerque and burying his body in a remote desert grave, The Center Square reported.
—Center Square, The Washington Examiner, 5 Jan. 2026
Stefon Diggs allegedly strangled his female chef over money earlier this month.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 31 Dec. 2025
In 2021, Bryan pled guilty to two misdemeanor charges of domestic violence after being accused of strangling a woman.
—Brianne Tracy, PEOPLE, 30 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for strangle
Kyle Werner, Des Moines Register, 6 Jan. 2026
This month, 11 alleged TdA members were indicted in New Mexico, accused of kidnapping, brutally interrogating and strangling to death a man in Albuquerque and burying his body in a remote desert grave, The Center Square reported.
—Center Square, The Washington Examiner, 5 Jan. 2026
Stefon Diggs allegedly strangled his female chef over money earlier this month.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 31 Dec. 2025
In 2021, Bryan pled guilty to two misdemeanor charges of domestic violence after being accused of strangling a woman.
—Brianne Tracy, PEOPLE, 30 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for strangle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for strangle
Verb
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Kenya choked under the dictatorship of Daniel arap Moi, who ruled from 1978 to 2002.—
Binaifer Nowrojee,
Time,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Just weeks after heroically saving a neighbor’s choking 1-year-old girl, an NYPD officer was at it again, saving the life of a 2-year-old boy who had stopped breathing in his Bronx home.—
Barry Williams,
New York Daily News,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Some might find this stifling or claustrophobic, but being forced to live together day by day may also stimulate openness and mutual respect.—
Ian Bogost,
The Atlantic,
29 Jan. 2026
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But Bethel and Shah say some providers find health care to be over-regulated with requirements, paperwork and other documentation that can stifle the innovation needed to produce more creative solutions.—
Briah Lumpkins,
Charlotte Observer,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
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For hours, in the suffocating heat, Dooley sifted through endless accounts of mundane colonial matters—church records, itemizations, legal disputes, petty complaints.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Jan. 2026
-
The lopsided score was a result of suffocating defense from the Chieftains, who never allowed Swampscott (10-2) to gain even an iota of rhythm on offense.—
Justin Barrasso,
Boston Herald,
24 Jan. 2026
Verb
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This led organically to feelings of love for one’s Black nannies and friendship with the children of your Black live-in maids, but this warmth had to be suppressed.—
Eve Fairbanks,
The Dial,
27 Jan. 2026
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Is grief, guilt, or shame suppressing your willpower?—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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That is some smothering defense!—
Zach Harper,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
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The matrilineal passage of power—made known by crying tears of blood—has been smothered and controlled by men, but thanks to their new abilities, the twins escape their mother and her malicious husband.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Because of that, engineers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have designed a pill that confirms when someone swallows it.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
25 Jan. 2026
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People talk about referees swallowing their whistles in the closing seconds of a one-point game.—
Mark Zeigler,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
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In June 2001, Andrea drowned all five of the Yates children before calling 911 and later confessing.—
Jordana Comiter,
PEOPLE,
13 Jan. 2026
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Like the leaves, the roots need oxygen so too much water around them will effectively drown them.—
Leanne Potts,
Better Homes & Gardens,
13 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Strangle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/strangle. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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