Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
×

An Encyclopædia Britannica Company

Thesaurus

choke

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of choke

1 to keep (someone) from breathing by exerting pressure on the windpipe
  • Let go of my throat—you're choking me!
Synonyms of choke

garrote (or garotte), strangle, suffocate, throttle
Words Related to choke

asphyxiate, smother, stifle
Near Antonyms of choke

restore, resuscitate, revive
2 to experience complete or partial blockage of the windpipe
  • the recommended procedure for helping someone who is choking
Synonyms of choke

gag, suffocate
Words Related to choke

heave, retch, throw up, vomit

asphyxiate, smother, stifle
Near Antonyms of choke

breathe, respire

expire, inspire
3 to be or cause to be killed by lack of breathable air
  • Thick, black smoke choked the trapped firefighters.
Synonyms of choke

smother, stifle, strangle, suffocate
Words Related to choke

garrote (or garotte), throttle

asphyxiate
Near Antonyms of choke

breathe, exhale, expire, inhale, inspire

resuscitate, revive
4 to prevent passage through by filling with something
  • Overgrown bushes choked the narrow alleyway between the buildings.
Synonyms of choke

block, clog, clot, congest, dam, gum (up), jam, obstruct, occlude, plug (up), stop (up), stuff
Words Related to choke

bung, cork, stopper, stopple

fill, gridlock, pack

fur, silt

flood, glut, inundate, overwhelm, swamp
Near Antonyms of choke

excavate, hollow (out), scoop (out)

empty, lighten
Antonyms of choke

clear, free, open (up), unblock, unclog, unplug, unstop

Learn More about choke

  1. See words that rhyme with choke Dictionary: Definition of choke Medical Dictionary: Definition of choke Spanish Central: Translation of choke Nglish: Translation of choke for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of choke for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about choke

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up choke? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

WORD OF THE DAY

cathexis

play

investment of mental or emotional energy

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. charlatan 'faker or fraud'

  2. lowlife 'a person of low moral character'

  3. kakistocracy 'government by the worst people'

  4. slimeball 'a morally repulsive or odious person'

  5. salacious 'arousing or appealing to sexual desire'

SEE ALL

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

image236659401
Words from Letters in the Greek Alphabet

When English borrows from another alphabet

alt-5ada140ed3e28
'Preventive' or 'Preventative'?

Why not both?

alt-5ad8fc71357ed
Words We're Watching: 'Bluebeard,' the Verb

No, it's not a coiffure trend

alt-5ad8d3361fb97
Where 'Cliff-hangers' Come From

You're on the edge of your seat

Ask the Editors

image1760257654
2017 Word of the Year: Behind the Scenes

How we chose 'feminism'

video-title-words-of-the-year-1066
Words of the Year: 1066

Or, Why Pig Meat is Called 'Pork' and Cow Meat is Called 'Beef'

video-literally
Literally

How to use a word that (literally) drives some people nuts.

video-his-or-her
Is Singular 'They' a Better Choice?

The awkward case of 'his or her'

Word Games

image1926873504
Odd Habits and Quirks Quiz

Test your knowledge of strange human behaviors.

Take the quiz
cats-on-impossible-timber
More Confusing Words—Quiz

How many of these commonly confused words do you know?

Take the quiz
How Strong Is Your Vocabulary?
How Strong Is Your Vocabulary?

Test your vocabulary with our 10-question quiz!

Take the quiz
Citation
Citation

Do you know the person or title these quotes describe?

Play the game