strangle

verb

stran·​gle ˈstraŋ-gəl 

strangled; strangling ˈstraŋ-g(ə-)liŋ 

transitive verb

1

a

: to choke to death by compressing the throat with something (such 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

strangler

ˈstraŋ-g(ə-)lər 

noun

Synonyms

• choke
• smother
• stifle
• suffocate

Examples of strangle in a Sentence

The weeds are strangling the plant.

The company is trying to strangle the smaller competition.

Recent Examples on the Web

Beresford-Redman was convicted of beating and strangling his wife 2015. —Ashlyn Messier, Fox News, 24 Apr. 2024

Prosecutors say Holton strangled her so mercilessly that blood vessels popped in her eyes. —Charles Rabin, Miami Herald, 17 Apr. 2024

If a new anti-Iran coalition does not take effective action, such as far stronger sanctions aimed at strangling the Iranian economy—with clear demands that Hezbollah pull back in Lebanon, and the Houthis in Yemen stop attacking merchant ships in the Red Sea—then Israel retains all its options. —Yossi Melman and Dan Raviv, TIME, 15 Apr. 2024

Coworkers Watched Chris Watts 'Get More and More Unhappy with His Life' Before Family Murders In August 2018, the property became a crime scene after Chris strangled his wife Shanann and smothered their two young daughters Bella, 4, and Celeste, 3. —Natalia Senanayake, Peoplemag, 11 Apr. 2024

Comanche, 27, and Harnden, 19, used a cord or another ligature to strangle Rodgers, the grand jury indictment alleges. —Cindy Von Quednow, CNN, 28 Mar. 2024

The victim had visible external injuries to her forehead and upper lip and claimed a man had punched her in the head, strangled her with two hands around her neck, and pushed a pillow on the back of her head as she was face down on the mattress. —Anne Gelhaus, The Mercury News, 9 Apr. 2024

In 2017, Sergey Rudenko was sentenced to 10 years in prison for strangling his girlfriend to death with a belt. —Milana Mazaeva, New York Times, 6 Apr. 2024

Rod was arrested in 2022 for unrelated charges of domestic battery by strangulation after allegedly strangling his ex-girlfriend. —Thania Garcia, Variety, 3 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Kids Definition

strangle

verb

stran·​gle ˈstraŋ-gəl 

strangled; strangling -g(ə-)liŋ 

1

: to choke to death by squeezing the throat

2

: to cause (someone or something) to choke or suffocate

3

: to suppress or hinder the rise, growth, or expression of

these rules are strangling my creativity

4

: to become strangled

5

: to die by or as if by interference with breathing

strangler

-g(ə-)lər 

noun

Medical Definition

strangle

verb

stran·​gle ˈstraŋ-gəl 

strangled; strangling -g(ə-)liŋ 

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