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

Roughly one-fifth of the world's oil supply has been caught in the crosshairs of Tehran's stranglehold on the strait, which closed at the beginning of the war, driving up gas prices. — Justin Fishel, ABC News, 17 June 2026

Instead, Vladar exceeded everyone's expectations and took a stranglehold of the starting job. — Tom Dougherty, CBS News, 1 July 2026

The court’s decision in the latter case gives a president with an expansive view of his power a green light to increase his stranglehold over independent federal agencies. — Josh Feldman, NBC news, 30 June 2026

Police officials and advocates for trafficking victims say the Hoovers gang, which formed in the 1970s, has long held a stranglehold along Figueroa. — Brittny Mejia, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 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