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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of chokes
Hybrid-resilient architecture—local backups that can kick in like muscle memory when the cloud chokes.
—
Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
On the ground, there’s a war of grappling, chokes, and limb breaks, and Oliveira is one of the best to ever fight it.
—Jack Crosbie, Rolling Stone, 14 Jan. 2025
Broken baggage chokes landfills and decomposes at a glacial pace.
—Christopher Elliott, Forbes, 28 Dec. 2024
Again, Dylan absolutely chokes.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 29 Nov. 2024
There’s a moment in the second film that really chokes me up.
—Jenelle Riley, Variety, 19 Oct. 2024
Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
On the ground, there’s a war of grappling, chokes, and limb breaks, and Oliveira is one of the best to ever fight it.
—Jack Crosbie, Rolling Stone, 14 Jan. 2025
Broken baggage chokes landfills and decomposes at a glacial pace.
—Christopher Elliott, Forbes, 28 Dec. 2024
Again, Dylan absolutely chokes.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 29 Nov. 2024
There’s a moment in the second film that really chokes me up.
—Jenelle Riley, Variety, 19 Oct. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chokes
Verb
-
At that point, both Hsiao-Lee’s life and our perspective open up toward something more hopeful, even if plenty of turmoil — including another unbearable scene in which Chiang nearly strangles Chuan to death — continues back home.—
Jordan Mintzer,
HollywoodReporter,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
This blocks criminals from opening new credit lines using your information.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
6 Sep. 2025
-
Its antivirus also protects your devices through the cloud and blocks threats in real-time.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Don't tail large vehicles closely - Trucks or buses can kick up a water spray that obstructs visibility.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
3 Sep. 2025
-
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,
30 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Someone breaks in, someone jams the signal from the home’s alarm system, someone monitors police radio traffic.—
Bebe Hodges,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
24 Aug. 2025
-
After Dex takes her down, Weyland recovers her brain and jams it into a supercomputer.—
Fran Ruiz,
Space.com,
4 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Cynthia Erivo returns as Elphaba with the kind of voice that fills a room and a presence that anchors a world.—
Okla Jones,
Essence,
10 Sep. 2025
-
When you're stuck staring at a blank page, your brain fills the space with doubt.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Chokes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chokes. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.
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