as in to stifle
to refrain from openly showing or uttering
choked back a sarcastic reply to an insulting question
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for choke (back)
Verb
-
Many of the games in the series have been blowouts, and Boise State jumped to a 10-0 lead Saturday night while stifling New Mexico’s offense, which had one first down in the first quarter.—
Jim Keyser,
Idaho Statesman,
12 Oct. 2025 -
Denver’s defense remained stifling even when it was put in unfavorable situations.—
The Athletic NFL Staff,
New York Times,
12 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The Secret Commonwealth is the condemnation of a world where imagination—not making things up, but a way of seeing, understanding, feeling the world—is suppressed by the dual forces of cold rationality and religious fundamentalisms that breed authoritarianism.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 Oct. 2025
-
That power is often used to unfairly influence elections through massive campaign donations, to interfere with independent journalism by buying media outlets, and to suppress competition in markets.—
Scott Ellis,
Time,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Live little fish on our tongues and swallowing them.—
Jon Blistein,
Rolling Stone,
14 Oct. 2025
-
Especially with the roof closed, the seats swallow you up.—
Joe Kozlowski,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
This chasm exposes the fragmentation that’s holding back European innovation.—
Jan Hammer,
Fortune,
18 Oct. 2025
-
There is zero selfishness to his game, no holding back to prevent injury.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
17 Oct. 2025
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.
Cite this Entry
“Choke (back).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/choke%20%28back%29. Accessed 19 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share