as in to stifle
to refrain from openly showing or uttering
choked back a sarcastic reply to an insulting question
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for choke (back)
Verb
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That’s when, particularly in the tech space, incumbents have the greatest incentive to stifle new technologies.—
Rohan Goswami,
semafor.com,
7 Aug. 2025 -
Further, whites used the threat of racist violence, tacitly approved by elites, to stifle efforts to empower the Black population.—
Time,
Time,
7 Aug. 2025
Verb
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When fixated on screens, our blink reflex is suppressed.—
Matt Fuchs,
Time,
4 Aug. 2025
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Four engines, one water tender, two dozers and two hand crews are working to suppress the fire.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
4 Aug. 2025
Verb
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While the girl kicked and laughed, the water, stirred from its sleep, latched on to her ankle and then swallowed her whole.—
Tochi Eze
August 5,
Literary Hub,
5 Aug. 2025
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That’s a hard pill to swallow for any retailer, regardless of size.—
Kate Nishimura,
Sourcing Journal,
5 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Her brother Nick, however, did attend, and even seemed to be holding back tears as the WWE paid tribute to Hogan.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
6 Aug. 2025
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Yet, Markey’s decision to run again is holding back a lot of political careers.—
Peter Lucas,
Boston Herald,
4 Aug. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Choke (back).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/choke%20%28back%29. Accessed 19 Aug. 2025.
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