as in stifles
to refrain from openly showing or uttering
choked back a sarcastic reply to an insulting question
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chokes (back)
Verb
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Avoid heavy garden soil, which compacts easily and stifles bulb growth.—
Emily Hayes,
Martha Stewart,
6 Feb. 2026 -
Administrative red tape stifles growth Beyond direct financial costs, small business owners are struggling with a sudden increase in bureaucratic red tape.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
29 Dec. 2025
Verb
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This reduces carbon reactivity and suppresses side reactions during high-voltage cycling.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
19 Feb. 2026
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The brief court appearance focused on extending a gag order that suppresses the identities of victims and survivors of the attack who have not chosen to identify themselves publicly.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Straining at a gnat, the majority swallows a camel.—
Ben Fenwick,
Oklahoma Watch,
12 Feb. 2026
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Because of that, engineers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have designed a pill that confirms when someone swallows it.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
25 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Sophie holds back and cries in her room.—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
29 Jan. 2026
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Neutral is considered a spot that neither boosts nor holds back economic activity, and the funds rate is just half a percentage point above where most on the FOMC see the rate landing over the long term.—
Jeff Cox,
CNBC,
3 Jan. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Chokes (back).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chokes%20%28back%29. Accessed 28 Feb. 2026.
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