strangle

1 of 2

verb

stran·​gle ˈstraŋ-gəl 

strangled; strangling ˈstraŋ-g(ə-)liŋ 

transitive verb

1

a

: to choke to death by compressing the throat with something (such as a hand or rope) : throttle

b

: to obstruct seriously or fatally the normal breathing of

c

: stifle

2

: to suppress or hinder the rise, expression, or growth of

repression strangles free speech

intransitive verb

1

: to become strangled

2

: to die from or as if from interference with breathing

strangler

ˈstraŋ-g(ə-)lər 

noun

strangler

2 of 2

noun

stran·​gler ˈstraŋglə(r) 

-aiŋ-

plural -s

1

: one that strangles

2

British : choke sense 2a

Synonyms of strangle

Verb

• choke
• stifle
• suffocate
• smother
• drown

Examples of strangle in a Sentence

Verb

The weeds are strangling the plant.

The company is trying to strangle the smaller competition.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

After an opening week of wrenching testimony and a jury trip to the home where Lindsay Clancy strangled her three children, her murder trial resumes Monday with more testimony about the killings in a coastal Massachusetts town in 2023. — ABC News, 3 Aug. 2026

On January 24, 2023, Clancy fatally strangled her three children in the basement of their Duxbury, Massachusetts, home using exercise resistance bands. — Eric Levenson, CNN Money, 3 Aug. 2026

After strangling the children in the basement of her home with exercise bands, Clancy attempted to kill herself by jumping out of the window of her Duxbury home, leaving her paralyzed. — Colleen Cronin, Boston Herald, 3 Aug. 2026

Both concluded that Leslie had been hit over the head and strangled. — Brenna Ehrlich, Rolling Stone, 31 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Anglo-French estrangler, from Latin strangulare, from Greek strangalan, from strangalē halter — more at strain

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Rhymes for strangle

• angle
• bangle
• dangle
• jangle
• mangle
• tangle
• wrangle
• disentangle
• entangle
• quadrangle
• triangle
• untangle

Kids Definition

strangle

verb

stran·​gle ˈstraŋ-gəl 

strangled; strangling -g(ə-)liŋ 

1

: to choke to death by squeezing the throat

2

: to cause (someone or something) to choke or suffocate

3

: to suppress or hinder the rise, growth, or expression of

these rules are strangling my creativity

4

: to become strangled

5

: to die by or as if by interference with breathing

strangler

-g(ə-)lər 

noun

Medical Definition

strangle

verb

stran·​gle ˈstraŋ-gəl 

strangled; strangling -g(ə-)liŋ 

transitive verb

1

: to choke to death by compressing the throat with something (as a hand or rope)

2

: to obstruct seriously or fatally the normal breathing of

the bone wedged in his throat and strangled him

intransitive verb

1

: to become strangled : undergo a severe interference with breathing

2

: to die from interference with breathing