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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Nothing stifles a good time like being stressed about what is going on at home without any way to intervene.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
10 Mar. 2026 -
Some parents have no issue monitoring and restricting how kids are using social media, AI chat bots, and even texting apps to keep them safe, while others worry too much oversight is an invasion of privacy and stifles their child's ability to develop independence.—
Liz Regalia,
Parents,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Blue light from screens suppresses melatonin by up to 80%, delaying sleep onset when viewed within an hour of bedtime and fragmenting deep sleep.—
John La Puma,
Oc Register,
26 Mar. 2026
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Blue light suppresses melatonin and makes falling back asleep significantly harder.—
Allison Palmer,
Miami Herald,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
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In Charlie Chaplin’s 1936 film Modern Times, a factory worker struggles to keep pace with an ever-accelerating assembly line—until the machine swallows him whole.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
26 Mar. 2026
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The actor audibly swallows to fight back the tears glittering in his eyes before continuing.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Nmecha holds back, posing doubt for Sanchez and a narrow window for his pass out.—
Beren Cross,
New York Times,
20 Mar. 2026
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The company holds back 30% of the equity to cover its selling costs, settlement charges and miscellaneous other fees, including 9% per day on all advanced funds.—
Lew Sichelman,
Miami Herald,
26 Feb. 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 31 Mar. 2026.
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