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 suppresses freedom of movement or expression

Examples of stranglehold in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

That railroad had a 30-percent stranglehold on containers across all rail carloads in 2024. —Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 28 July 2025

India have taken a stranglehold of the ICC after the recent appointment of Sanjog Gupta as chief executive, hot on the heels of Indian compatriot Jay Shah’s ascension as chair. —Tristan Lavalette, Forbes.com, 27 July 2025

China has a stranglehold on us for those important minerals. —NBC news, 13 July 2025

Last weekend, the armed gangs that have a stranglehold on Port-au-Prince burned the hotel to the ground. —Jason Motlagh, Rolling Stone, 13 July 2025

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