choke

verb

ˈchōk How to pronounce choke (audio)
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to block
to prevent passage through by filling with something overgrown bushes choked the narrow alleyway between the buildings

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 The Mets entered this season overhauling a roster that choked away the best record in the league last summer, which turned in a league-high $329 million payroll. — Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 23 July 2026 The women alleged they were often choked by the brothers, sometimes to the point of passing out, before being raped. — Kim Hjelmgaard, USA Today, 22 July 2026 We're just relieved the tone on display is respectful and serious and not choked with jokes and gags as in the most recent MCU outings. — Jeff Spry, Space.com, 20 July 2026 The city was choked with traffic thanks to a visit from King Charles. — Charles Bethea, New Yorker, 20 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for choke
Recent Examples of Synonyms for choke
  1. strangle
  2. vomit
  3. suffocate
  4. block
  5. throttle
  6. obstruct
  7. jam
Verb
  • Witnesses speculated that the markings could be a sign she was strangled, raising concerns about possible foul play.
    — Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 24 July 2026
  • One of the women who alleged she was strangled also accused him of rape, whipping her with a belt and pointing a gun in her face.
    — Kim Hjelmgaard, USA Today, 22 July 2026
Definition of strangle
Verb
  • And the consequences of a curious nibble can range from vomiting to emergency surgery to death.
    — Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 July 2026
  • If symptoms escalate to vomiting, wobbling or bright red gums, get to a veterinarian as quickly as possible.
    — Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 13 July 2026
Definition of vomit
Verb
  • New York has had excellent stretches, such as the team’s undefeated Commissioner’s Cup run, when their offense moves from side to side, their shotmaking reaches elite levels and their length is suffocating on defense.
    — Sabreena Merchant, New York Times, 21 July 2026
  • Each incident was met with a familiar, suffocating silence — minimized, forgiven and swept away.
    — Jeremy Kohler, ProPublica, 20 July 2026
Definition of suffocate
Verb
  • The Houthi blockade of the Bab-al-Mandeb strait has blocked another exit point for roughly 5 million barrels per day of Saudi oil.
    — David Goldman, CNN Money, 24 July 2026
  • If Democrats block a stopgap bill, Thune will face plenty of problems with his fallback approach of passing a party-line spending bill to fund some of the government this fall.
    — Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 23 July 2026
Definition of block
Verb
  • The states alleged in their lawsuit that the acquisition will substantially throttle competition in wide-release and top-grossing theatrical distribution and cable licensing in violation of antitrust laws.
    — Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 24 July 2026
  • Brent crude settled above $100 a barrel Thursday for the first time since late May, after Yemen's Houthis claimed strikes on two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea — opening a second chokepoint in a war that has already throttled the Strait of Hormuz.
    — Anniek Bao, CNBC, 24 July 2026
Definition of throttle
Verb
  • Lozano Flores is being held at the Ada County Jail on suspicion of lewd conduct with a child younger than 16, first-degree kidnapping, and resisting and obstructing an officer.
    — Noah Daly, Idaho Statesman, 24 July 2026
  • The feds didn’t state a reason for the appeal, but have argued in the lawsuit that the city’s sanctuary protections unconstitutionally obstruct the federal government from enforcing immigration laws.
    — Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald, 24 July 2026
Definition of obstruct
Verb
  • Growing up, Tanner Dane and his best-friends-turned-bandmates used to spend hours and hours jamming in his Elgin attic.
    — Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 18 July 2026
  • In the video, the rocker struts around in stage dressed in all black with slick white boots, jamming on his guitar.
    — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 15 July 2026
Definition of jam

Phrases Containing choke

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choirs
choke
choke (back)
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Cite this Entry

“Choke.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/choke. Accessed 28 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on choke

Nglish: Translation of choke for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about choke

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