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

Los Angeles will look for a stranglehold in the NLCS in Game 2 on Tuesday night. —Kendall Capps, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Oct. 2025

Fort Worth Arlington Heights came to Rough Rider Stadium on Thursday night, trying to keep its stranglehold on the top of the District 4-5A Division I football standings. —Updated October 10, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Oct. 2025

Volpe has done nothing to warrant a stranglehold on the position. —Chris Kirschner, New York Times, 9 Oct. 2025

This continuous conversation, heightened by agile promo tactics and surprise announcements, is central to Swift’s stranglehold on cultural capital. —Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 3 Oct. 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