stranglehold

noun

stran·​gle·​hold ˈstraŋ-gəl-ˌhōld 

1

: an illegal wrestling hold by which one's opponent is choked

2

: a force or influence that stops something from growing or developing

… opened three stores within a year and got a stranglehold on market share.

—Inc.

Examples of stranglehold in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

This latest twist came after the most recent cycle of attacks failed to break Tehran’s stranglehold on the strait and in fact saw the war expand to the Red Sea and Egypt, threatening even greater fallout for the global economy. — Dennis Romero, NBC news, 3 Aug. 2026

Democrats won two seats on the five-member commission last year, ending the two-decade, all-Republican stranglehold on the utility regulatory panel. — Adam Beam, AJC.com, 3 Aug. 2026

In the churning pool, Max grapples with Tom, who locks him in a stranglehold. — Jp Mangalindan, Time, 31 July 2026

Espinosa said the detention facility’s rural location will put a stranglehold on transparency and communication. — Noah Vinsky july 25, Charlotte Observer, 26 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1893, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for stranglehold

• copyhold
• decontrolled
• hundredfold
• manifold
• marigold
• oversold
• petioled
• sevenfold
• subthreshold
• thousandfold
• uncontrolled
• ahold

Kids Definition

stranglehold

noun

stran·​gle·​hold ˈstraŋ-gəl-ˌhōld 

1

: an illegal wrestling hold by which one's opponent is choked

2

: a force or influence that chokes or blocks freedom of development or expression