choke

Definition of chokenext
1
as in to strangle
to keep (someone) from breathing by exerting pressure on the windpipe let go of my throat—you're choking me!

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
as in to vomit
to experience complete or partial blockage of the windpipe the recommended procedure for helping someone who is choking

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

3
as in to suffocate
to be or cause to be killed by lack of breathable air thick, black smoke choked the trapped firefighters

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4

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of choke Confirm the safety key, throttle, and choke are in the correct positions before starting. David Beaulieu, The Spruce, 1 Feb. 2026 Braddy’s criminal history included convictions for robbery, kidnapping and attempting to kill a corrections officer by choking him. Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2026 Kenya choked under the dictatorship of Daniel arap Moi, who ruled from 1978 to 2002. Binaifer Nowrojee, Time, 30 Jan. 2026 Just weeks after heroically saving a neighbor’s choking 1-year-old girl, an NYPD officer was at it again, saving the life of a 2-year-old boy who had stopped breathing in his Bronx home. Barry Williams, New York Daily News, 29 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for choke
Recent Examples of Synonyms for choke
Verb
  • In 2021, Ratray was accused of attempting to strangle his girlfriend.
    Madeline Boardman, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Jan. 2026
  • Necropsies performed on both dogs by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the University of Georgia concluded that they were strangled to death, investigators said, WSB-TV reports.
    KC Baker, PEOPLE, 29 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Officers called to the scene by angry neighbors encountered one teenager shaking uncontrollably and vomiting on the front lawn of the home, according to the report, which also noted that the teen was taken to a nearby hospital and treated for alcohol poisoning.
    Chris Spargo, PEOPLE, 4 Feb. 2026
  • During the first couple of months, people may feel the urge to vomit, nausea in the morning and abdominal discomfort.
    Miriam Fauzia, Dallas Morning News, 4 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Some athletes feel suffocated by the obligations that fame brings.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 2 Feb. 2026
  • Some athletes feel suffocated by the obligations that fame brings.
    Eddie Pells, Baltimore Sun, 1 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Security footage shown at trial was presented by Baker, who pointed out that the defendants covered cameras with various materials and stacked bulky objects and furniture to block doors.
    Ryan Macasero, Mercury News, 6 Feb. 2026
  • An officer may direct you out of the Express Lanes, too, into the general lanes if there is a collision blocking traffic.
    Jim Radcliffe, Oc Register, 6 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Overall, Newsom has tended to favor attempts to protect children and other vulnerable groups from AI, while opposing measures that could throttle the industry’s growth.
    Dan Walters, Mercury News, 6 Feb. 2026
  • The idea is a weaker currency boosts exports and employment while a strong currency can throttle an economy.
    Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • The kangaroo was reportedly obstructing highway traffic in Nelson County, Virginia.
    Martin Weil, Washington Post, 3 Feb. 2026
  • David Schenker, senior fellow at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy, testified that while Hezbollah has been weakened militarily, the pace of disarmament remains slow and obstructed.
    Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 3 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Less than a minute later, Beauvillier jammed the puck past Islanders goalie David Rittich to the short side.
    CBS News, CBS News, 3 Feb. 2026
  • The kids are sure to love the life-size puppets and jamming tunes.
    Caroline Ritzie, Cincinnati Enquirer, 1 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Choke.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/choke. Accessed 7 Feb. 2026.

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