CHOKES (BACK) Synonyms: 28 Similar and Opposite Words

chokes (back)

verb

present tense third-person singular of choke (back)

as in stifles

to refrain from openly showing or uttering choked back a sarcastic reply to an insulting question

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Recent Examples of Synonyms for chokes (back)

Verb

Landscape fabric acts as a barrier that stifles this living, dynamic process.

— Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 July 2026
In a Knight Foundation study, 56% of students reported believing that social media stifles free expression due to fear of being attacked.

— Ravi Iyer, Time, 18 July 2026

Definition of stifles

Verb

Non-breeding mole-rat females are known to run high on prolactin, a hormone that also suppresses fertility during lactation in nursing mammals.

— Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 21 July 2026
Oura Ring emphasizes morning sunlight in its education content, noting that first-thing sunlight suppresses melatonin and increases cortisol, and positions itself as a tool to track sleep and validate sunmaxxing habits.

— Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 21 July 2026

Definition of suppresses

Verb

The film’s goldfish-eating scene, in which Donnie swallows a broker’s pet to punish him for slacking off, really happened.

— JP Mangalindan, Entertainment Weekly, 14 July 2026
Infant botulism begins when a child swallows food containing bacterial spores, which produce toxins in the intestines.

— Grant Stringer, Mercury News, 8 July 2026

Definition of swallows

Verb

Samsung traditionally holds back one color in the Galaxy S range to be a web exclusive and drive consumers to its website, although typically this is one of the standard black or grey colors.

— Ewan Spence, Forbes.com, 30 May 2026
The hydropower from Glen Canyon Dam that holds back Lake Powell serves more than 350,000 homes.

— ABC News, ABC News, 8 May 2026

Definition of holds back

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Browse Nearby Words

chokes

chokes (back)

chokes off

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“Chokes (back).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chokes%20%28back%29. Accessed 26 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of chokes (back)

verb

Example Sentences

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