as in strangled
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1
as in throttled
to keep (someone) from breathing by exerting pressure on the windpipe
let go of my throat—you're choking me!
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
3
as in drowned
to be or cause to be killed by lack of breathable air
thick, black smoke choked the trapped firefighters
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in blocked
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
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Recent Examples of choked
Daniel Estrin, NPR, 13 Feb. 2026
Three years after the incident involving Cordell, a prisoner claimed he was assaulted, choked and Tazed by Hadder while on day release for a family reunion at a Waffle House.
—Rob Picheta, CNN Money, 7 Feb. 2026
Kenya choked under the dictatorship of Daniel arap Moi, who ruled from 1978 to 2002.
—Binaifer Nowrojee, Time, 30 Jan. 2026
School buildings were sound, but parking lots and sidewalks remained slick with ice or choked with snow.
—Jessica Ma, Dallas Morning News, 29 Jan. 2026
The evidence shows, the attorney said, that Braddy choked Maycock in a fit of rage — and, after, abandoned Quatisha in the Everglades.
—Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 29 Jan. 2026
On the day Ujlaky vanished, prosecutors alleged Dickey choked her by wrapping a ligature around her neck before raping her and slashing her throat, according to a criminal complaint obtained by PEOPLE.
—Kc Baker, PEOPLE, 28 Jan. 2026
The petition, which was granted by a federal judge, cites reports alleging that guards at the facility choked and asphyxiated Campos.
—Laura Romero, ABC News, 27 Jan. 2026
Diesel engines and factory smoke choked the sky.
—Sean Williams, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
Verb
Israeli settler violence and settlement expansion has grown, and daily Palestinian life has been choked by movement restrictions and military raids.
—Daniel Estrin, NPR, 13 Feb. 2026
Three years after the incident involving Cordell, a prisoner claimed he was assaulted, choked and Tazed by Hadder while on day release for a family reunion at a Waffle House.
—Rob Picheta, CNN Money, 7 Feb. 2026
Kenya choked under the dictatorship of Daniel arap Moi, who ruled from 1978 to 2002.
—Binaifer Nowrojee, Time, 30 Jan. 2026
School buildings were sound, but parking lots and sidewalks remained slick with ice or choked with snow.
—Jessica Ma, Dallas Morning News, 29 Jan. 2026
The evidence shows, the attorney said, that Braddy choked Maycock in a fit of rage — and, after, abandoned Quatisha in the Everglades.
—Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 29 Jan. 2026
On the day Ujlaky vanished, prosecutors alleged Dickey choked her by wrapping a ligature around her neck before raping her and slashing her throat, according to a criminal complaint obtained by PEOPLE.
—Kc Baker, PEOPLE, 28 Jan. 2026
The petition, which was granted by a federal judge, cites reports alleging that guards at the facility choked and asphyxiated Campos.
—Laura Romero, ABC News, 27 Jan. 2026
Diesel engines and factory smoke choked the sky.
—Sean Williams, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for choked
Verb
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Getty Images Since the June strikes, Iran’s rulers have been weakened by street protests, suppressed at a cost of thousands of lives, against a cost-of-living crisis driven in part by international sanctions that have strangled the country’s oil income.—
Max Burman,
NBC news,
17 Feb. 2026
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Hanlon was out hiking when Hall assaulted and strangled her to death.—
Kevin Fixler,
Idaho Statesman,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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All four of the pledges reportedly vomited during that break, the affidavits said.—
Lindsay Good,
NBC news,
3 Feb. 2026
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The night before he was diagnosed, Williams vomited at home for several hours.—
Andrew Callahan,
Boston Herald,
1 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The person appeared to have accidentally drowned, a police spokesperson said, and no foul play is suspected.—
Emily Holshouser,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
17 Feb. 2026
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There is still time for a course correction, but not if the truth is drowned out with bullying and lies.—
Erick Erickson,
Oc Register,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Meanwhile, on the steps of the assembly building, protesters and lawmakers were facing off against troops who had blocked the entrance.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
21 Feb. 2026
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Dozens of Democrats had threatened to boycott the dinner if members of their party were blocked from the working meeting.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
21 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Travel from Canada was notably down compared to previous years due to strained relations between the two countries.—
Lori Weisberg,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 Feb. 2026
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In the Bronx, Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez had a strained relationship, but still won the 2009 World Series together, and now sit on the same TV set regularly as analysts for MLB on FOX.—
Abbey Mastracco,
New York Daily News,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Russian authorities have already blocked major social media platforms such as X, Facebook and Instagram, throttled YouTube, and methodically ramped up restrictions against other popular platforms during four years of war.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
21 Feb. 2026
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Heavy industrial water use—such as by data centers—should be throttled through taxation to fund desalinated water for refilling depleted aquifers.—
Eleanor Dearman,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Some athletes feel suffocated by the obligations that fame brings.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
2 Feb. 2026
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Some athletes feel suffocated by the obligations that fame brings.—
Eddie Pells,
Baltimore Sun,
1 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The officers, masked and kitted out with military-grade armor and rifles, have faced down peaceful protesters and people who have threatened, obstructed or attacked them, with methods that are less deadly than guns but still inflict grievous injuries.—
Kayla Hayempour,
NBC news,
15 Feb. 2026
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Under her watch, Americans have been murdered in cold blood, DHS has obstructed lawful congressional oversight, dismissed credible reports of abuse, carried out an extreme agenda that tears families apart and destabilizes communities.—
The Editorial Board,
Oc Register,
5 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Choked.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/choked. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
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