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.
Inc.Examples of stranglehold in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
What Happens Next The jihadist stranglehold on Bamako increases the risk of yet another military coup or of protests that ultimately bring this about.
—Matthew Tostevin, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025
Xi will likely continue using Beijing’s stranglehold on critical minerals to coerce the United States and others.
—Mira Rapp-Hooper, Foreign Affairs, 29 Oct. 2025
It was put into devastating effect last week when Beijing ramped up export restrictions on rare earth minerals and permanent magnets—arcane materials vital for myriad industrial processes and for which China enjoys a stranglehold on supply.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 16 Oct. 2025
Mike Vrabel puts Titans in a stranglehold The Tennessee Titans fired head coach Mike Vrabel in 2024.
—Coy Wire, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stranglehold
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Matthew Tostevin, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025
Xi will likely continue using Beijing’s stranglehold on critical minerals to coerce the United States and others.
—Mira Rapp-Hooper, Foreign Affairs, 29 Oct. 2025
It was put into devastating effect last week when Beijing ramped up export restrictions on rare earth minerals and permanent magnets—arcane materials vital for myriad industrial processes and for which China enjoys a stranglehold on supply.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 16 Oct. 2025
Mike Vrabel puts Titans in a stranglehold The Tennessee Titans fired head coach Mike Vrabel in 2024.
—Coy Wire, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stranglehold
Cite this Entry
“Stranglehold.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stranglehold. Accessed 6 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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