choke out

phrasal verb

choked out; choking out; chokes out
: to say (something) with difficulty because of strong emotion
She tearfully choked out an apology.
He just managed to choke a reply out.

Examples of choke out in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Industry is where innocence goes to die, choked out in bed by various personifications of greed. Judy Berman, Time, 19 Jan. 2026 As the Grabber terrorizes those on the ice (and tries to choke out Finn), Gwen (in her dream state) dives into the water in search of the missing boys. Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Jan. 2026 But the street construction choked out several existing businesses and restaurants. Miguel Otárola, Denver Post, 30 Dec. 2025 Left unchecked, these invasives choke out native plants, girdle trees, and cause a host of other problems. Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Dec. 2025 Invasive plants like giant salvinia can completely smother the shallow portions of lakes, choking out all life and blocking user access. Arkansas Online, 21 Oct. 2025 That fall application boosts new growth in the spring that’s greener and thicker, which helps choke out any weeds trying to emerge. Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 9 Oct. 2025 Then 25 seconds later, he’s choked out by the machine. Daniel D'addario, Variety, 24 Sep. 2025 And then 20 seconds later, he’s choked out by the machine, right? Dave Nemetz, TVLine, 23 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Choke out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/choke%20out. Accessed 22 Jan. 2026.

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