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

Xi’s superpower rival had established a seemingly unassailable lead in the most consequential technology of the past half-century—as well as a stranglehold on the bedrock hardware. —Charlie Campbell, Time, 11 Dec. 2025

Over a series of decades, China built up its stranglehold on much of the world’s critical minerals supply chains, including the 17 rare earths, used to make virtually all kinds of high-performance magnets and parts for vehicles, computers, power generation, military defense, and more. —Jordan Blum, Fortune, 9 Dec. 2025

Despite several recent security and manufacturing issues, both Airbus and its US rival Boeing have recorded surging demand, reflecting the duopoly’s stranglehold over the industry. —Jeronimo Gonzalez, semafor.com, 3 Dec. 2025

For the first time since probably the Giants game, the Broncos' D really struggled to find its usual stranglehold on a game. —Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 1 Dec. 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