1
as in strangles
to keep (someone) from breathing by exerting pressure on the windpipe
let go of my throat—you're choking me!
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
3
as in smothers
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 blocks
to prevent passage through by filling with something
overgrown bushes choked the narrow alleyway between the buildings
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of chokes
In the ensuing battle, Mary is unable to run away from Howard, who then pins her down and seemingly chokes her out.
—
Max Gao, Variety, 29 Apr. 2026
In the second season, a patient under the influence wraps his arm around a young nurse’s neck and chokes her until the charge nurse intervenes.
—Jennifer Obel, Twin Cities, 22 Apr. 2026
Jasmine almost chokes on her corn dog when that comes out of Janet’s mouth.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 9 Apr. 2026
Then Leaphorn appears, knocks her down, and chokes her.
—Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Apr. 2026
Iran war chokes Gulf’s helium exports The war in Iran is choking supplies of helium, vital for technologies from AI chatbots to MRI scanners.
—Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 2 Apr. 2026
Like other invasive plants, stinknet chokes native plants and increases fire risk.
—Shi En Kim, AZCentral.com, 13 Mar. 2026
With fuel and freight prices skyrocketing as war chokes the Strait of Hormuz, the Panama Canal is seeing more business than usual.
—Elizabeth González, CNN Money, 12 Mar. 2026
The Group of Seven finance ministers are set to discuss a possible joint release of oil reserves on Monday, according to people familiar with the matter, as the Middle East war chokes flows from the region and sends prices soaring.
—Alberto Nardelli, Bloomberg, 9 Mar. 2026
Max Gao, Variety, 29 Apr. 2026
In the second season, a patient under the influence wraps his arm around a young nurse’s neck and chokes her until the charge nurse intervenes.
—Jennifer Obel, Twin Cities, 22 Apr. 2026
Jasmine almost chokes on her corn dog when that comes out of Janet’s mouth.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 9 Apr. 2026
Then Leaphorn appears, knocks her down, and chokes her.
—Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Apr. 2026
Iran war chokes Gulf’s helium exports The war in Iran is choking supplies of helium, vital for technologies from AI chatbots to MRI scanners.
—Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 2 Apr. 2026
Like other invasive plants, stinknet chokes native plants and increases fire risk.
—Shi En Kim, AZCentral.com, 13 Mar. 2026
With fuel and freight prices skyrocketing as war chokes the Strait of Hormuz, the Panama Canal is seeing more business than usual.
—Elizabeth González, CNN Money, 12 Mar. 2026
The Group of Seven finance ministers are set to discuss a possible joint release of oil reserves on Monday, according to people familiar with the matter, as the Middle East war chokes flows from the region and sends prices soaring.
—Alberto Nardelli, Bloomberg, 9 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chokes
Verb
-
Ground cover plants around trees can lead to root girdling—where the cover essentially strangles the tree, threatening its health.—
Lee Wallender,
The Spruce,
30 Apr. 2026
-
As Iran strangles the Strait of Hormuz, countries have scrambled for alternative routes.—
Samy Magdy,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Shows were led by a sentient wad of meat, a talk-show host who vomits in front of guests, and a reality-TV star who never shows his face.—
Eric Vilas-Boas,
Vulture,
18 Mar. 2026
-
Absinthe-eyed, she projectile-vomits blunt observations and also oysters onto the heavies, overimbibing her way into her own grave once she’s inevitably discarded with a shot and shove down a stairwell (a barely-there John Magaro plays one of the gangsters).—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Carson smothers it over a crisp and shattering tortilla with tart pickled jalapeño, silky avocado crema and a blizzard of cotija cheese.—
Louisa Kung Liu Chu,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Apr. 2026
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Once in flowerbeds and vegetable gardens, the plant depletes potassium necessary for plant health and smothers low-growing plants.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
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But then maybe Embiid blocks him from behind.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
4 May 2026
-
Leadership cowardice blocks our connection to that top level — the why.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
4 May 2026
Verb
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Mansfield Legacy throttles Crowley Mansfield Legacy piled on the hits against Crowley Friday, seizing a 17-1 victory in a game that ended after three innings.—
Charles Baggarly,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Records could also be topped in Las Vegas and Phoenix through the weekend as the early-season desert heat wave throttles up.—
Doyle Rice,
USA Today,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Don't tail large vehicles closely - Trucks or buses can kick up a water spray that obstructs visibility.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
3 May 2026
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Don't tail large vehicles closely - Trucks or buses can kick up a water spray that obstructs visibility.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
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That crud jams up the works of your coffee maker, slows brewing down, and impacts the taste of your morning brew.—
Melissa Locker,
Southern Living,
16 Feb. 2026
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The move effectively jams the upper chamber by including the repeal in the funding package without the necessary time to reverse course, giving the Senate no option but to approve it.—
Kaia Hubbard,
CBS News,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Book well in advance for this South End venue, as this small venue fills up fast.—
Cameron Sperance,
Travel + Leisure,
3 May 2026
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The sound of birds fills the humid air in Tatamá National Park, located on the western slopes of the Andes mountains.—
Anderson Cooper,
CBS News,
3 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Chokes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chokes. Accessed 10 May. 2026.
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