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

And then, Beyoncé, who has a stranglehold on excellence and can woo 100,000 with a look, shattered that bit of black-and-white history with a purple light, flames shooting up from the stage, and a sensational and sensual performance. —Matthew Odam, Austin American Statesman, 5 Feb. 2026

Such a partnership would be designed to undermine China’s stranglehold on the mining of key elements that make everything from smartphones to electric cars and fighter jets tick, the foundations of very real economic value that could rival the strategic importance of petroleum. —Tristan Bove, Fortune, 5 Feb. 2026

China currently has a stranglehold on the supply of these crucial minerals, and has likewise invested in Greenland’s mines. —Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 23 Jan. 2026

Trump officials view Greenland’s underground riches as a way to loosen China’s stranglehold over the rare-earth metals that are critical for everything from fighter jets and lasers to electric vehicles and MRI scanners. —Matt Egan, CNN Money, 22 Jan. 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