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
-
But the California School Boards Association staunchly opposed that legislation, arguing the bill stifled local decision-making.—
Molly Gibbs,
Mercury News,
16 Apr. 2026 -
Setting aside the fact that these same people have done everything within their power to stifle regulation, this is self-evidently true.—
Gideon Lewis-Kraus,
New Yorker,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
It is designed as a multi-role weapon capable of suppressing enemy air defenses, striking ships, and engaging high-value airborne targets such as surveillance aircraft and aerial refueling tankers.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
14 Apr. 2026
-
Until then, Jude had never read Bram Stoker’s novel, which was suppressed during the Communist era, its supernatural themes being out of alignment with Romania’s view of itself as a modern industrial nation.—
Rebecca Mead,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
That the Sabres couldn’t live up to the hype this season despite having a top 10 starting goalie performance is a tough pill to swallow.—
Dom Luszczyszyn,
New York Times,
10 Apr. 2026
-
And in rain, the muddy dirt roads threaten to swallow your car.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The governor also opposed it, telling senators that such planning is best done at the local level and that a statewide moratorium holds back municipalities that want a data center.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 Apr. 2026
-
The Vatican had said fighting corruption in the mineral-rich central African country would be one of the themes of Leo’s visit, and the American pope didn’t hold back in addressing Biya and government authorities in his arrival address at the presidential palace.—
Nicole Winfield,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Apr. 2026
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 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
