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
Relevance
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
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
Their inclusion on the recent flight comes as the United States chokes the nation’s oil supplies in a bid for negotiations that could end up in regime change, sparking questions about whether Cuba will take more deportations to ease the political and economic pressure.
—Syra Ortiz Blanes, Miami Herald, 19 Feb. 2026
This determines whether Precinct 4 thrives or chokes on its own growth.
—Rachel Royster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Feb. 2026
Bond chokes Blofeld, who quickly dies from the virus.
—Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 28 Jan. 2026
Much of the work focused on pulling out English ivy, an invasive vine known for slowly killing trees, and clearing debris that chokes the forest floor.
—Brian Unger, CBS News, 19 Jan. 2026
Physical bullying happens when a child hits, kicks, trips, pushes, chokes or otherwise hurts another child.
—Dr. Mahvash Madni, Boston Herald, 4 Jan. 2026
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
Their inclusion on the recent flight comes as the United States chokes the nation’s oil supplies in a bid for negotiations that could end up in regime change, sparking questions about whether Cuba will take more deportations to ease the political and economic pressure.
—Syra Ortiz Blanes, Miami Herald, 19 Feb. 2026
This determines whether Precinct 4 thrives or chokes on its own growth.
—Rachel Royster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Feb. 2026
Bond chokes Blofeld, who quickly dies from the virus.
—Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 28 Jan. 2026
Much of the work focused on pulling out English ivy, an invasive vine known for slowly killing trees, and clearing debris that chokes the forest floor.
—Brian Unger, CBS News, 19 Jan. 2026
Physical bullying happens when a child hits, kicks, trips, pushes, chokes or otherwise hurts another child.
—Dr. Mahvash Madni, Boston Herald, 4 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chokes
Verb
-
Mostly, though, Boland strangles batters with his suffocating and deadly-accurate line and length.—
Tim Spiers,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
-
What starts as an innocent father/daughter college visit takes a shocking turn when Tony brutally strangles a Mob turncoat.—
Dan Snierson,
Entertainment Weekly,
27 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
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
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There’s a scene in which Frank meets his own idol, an alt-world version of Fred Astaire (played by Gyllenhaal’s brother Jake, who is good at mugging and singing), and vomits his fandom at him until the actor recoils.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The pieces knit together to form a cast iron surface that sheds water, smothers weeds and holds up for a long time.—
Paul Cappiello,
Louisville Courier Journal,
6 Mar. 2026
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On the latter, Bollywood royalty Asha Bhosle, 92, sings in Hindi of setting sail to the other side, but Albarn smothers her beneath heraldic bursts of Disneyfied psych-pop.—
Jazz Monroe,
Pitchfork,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Another young woman dripped blood down her nose from a gash hastily covered by a strip of fabric tied around her forehead just blocks away, while still walking into the masses along the route with her friends.—
Grace Zokovitch,
Boston Herald,
16 Mar. 2026
-
Just blocks away, the Cleveland Clinic also is opening a 130,000-square-foot outpatient clinic in the 15 CityPlace office tower, under construction by Related Ross.—
Cindy Krischer Goodman,
Sun Sentinel,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
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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
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Health care costs have risen dramatically faster than the spending cap set by TABOR, which in turn throttles other aspects of the state budget.—
Seth Klamann,
Denver Post,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
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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,
16 Mar. 2026
-
Don't tail large vehicles closely - Trucks or buses can kick up a water spray that obstructs visibility.—
STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
11 Mar. 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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The event fills India Street with more than 250 visual artists, interactive art for families, four music stages and food vendors.—
Carlos Rico,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
16 Mar. 2026
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After four years in theater, Dorian has grown from struggling to project to the kind of student who lights up the stage and fills the room with is laughter and voice.—
Heide Janssen,
Oc Register,
15 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Chokes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chokes. Accessed 20 Mar. 2026.
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