CHOKING Synonyms: 69 Similar and Opposite Words

choking

verb

Definition of choking

present participle of choke

as in strangling

to keep (someone) from breathing by exerting pressure on the windpipe let go of my throat—you're choking me!

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in vomiting

to experience complete or partial blockage of the windpipe the recommended procedure for helping someone who is choking

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as in drowning

to be or cause to be killed by lack of breathable air thick, black smoke choked the trapped firefighters

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as in blocking

to prevent passage through by filling with something overgrown bushes choked the narrow alleyway between the buildings

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Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of choking Cotton is one of more than 100 million people across the Midwest, Northeast and mid-Atlantic breathing in dangerous air brought by thick, choking plumes of smoke from wildfires in Canada. — Dalia Faheid, CNN Money, 18 July 2026 The trend, which was popular on TikTok at the time, involves intentionally choking oneself or holding one’s breath until passing out. — Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 18 July 2026 Charlotte-area forecasters are monitoring Canadian wildfire smoke choking a wide swath of the country, from the Great Lakes to Pennsylvania and New York. — Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 17 July 2026 Art Fairs are simultaneously choking the life out of some galleries while trying to give offer them a breath of fresh air via alternative models and boutique sensibilities. — Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 17 July 2026 Smoke from the blazes has been choking American cities and towns from Minnesota to New York for days. — Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 17 July 2026 Air quality ranging from hazardous to unhealthy is also affecting parts of Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan, choking major northeastern cities like Philadelphia, New York City and Baltimore, according to AirNow. — Ava Berger, NPR, 16 July 2026 Swallowed objects like string, hair ties and fabric can cause choking, dental injury or intestinal blockage. — Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 July 2026 Since babies explore with their mouths, the balls could become a choking hazard. — Sari Hitchins, Parents, 6 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for choking

Verb

Another woman also accuses Tristan Tate, 38, of strangling her unconscious and then raping her, according to the filings.

— Patrick Reevell, ABC News, 22 July 2026
Jury selection got underway July 20 in the murder trial of a Massachusetts mother accused of fatally strangling her three children, a case that rocked the community of Duxbury and shed a spotlight on a rare mental health condition.

— N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 20 July 2026

Definition of strangling

Verb

Drowning is the leading cause of death among children ages 1 through 4, and in kids ages 5 through 14, drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional injury death after vehicle crashes.

— Amaia Gavica, Miami Herald, 24 July 2026
For a generation drowning in student debt, this is a substantial structural fix.

— Steve Forbes, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026

Definition of drowning

Verb

Vokolek was blocking during a kickoff and landed awkwardly after hitting a Colts player.

— Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 23 July 2026
This judge's conduct overrides clear longstanding principles and common sense -- blocking the grand jury from receiving core evidence in a national security investigation.

— Peter Charalambous, ABC News, 23 July 2026

Definition of blocking

Verb

Moreover, the State Department did not consider Israel’s months-long pattern of obstructing aid; the department only assessed the volume of aid flowing when the report was being finalized.

— David D. Kirkpatrick, New Yorker, 20 July 2026
The passenger, Alan Pena Sabogn, 21, also of Bogotá, was later apprehended and arrested on suspicion of failing to obey a lawful order, obstructing a peace officer and providing false identification, authorities said.

— Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 20 July 2026

Definition of obstructing

Verb

He’s been jamming with The Internet again, his collective with childhood friends Syd and Matt Martians, who emerged from the Odd Future nexus to become a pacesetting act for young R&B and hip-hop fans.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 22 July 2026
Growing up, Tanner Dane and his best-friends-turned-bandmates used to spend hours and hours jamming in his Elgin attic.

— Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 18 July 2026

Definition of jamming

Verb

Previously, applicants were to be reviewed by a screening committee to suggest top applicants to the superintendent’s leadership team, who then sent a recommendation for filling the position.

— Maven Navarro, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 July 2026
Ultimately, the best bar complements a whole-food diet, filling nutritional gaps rather than replacing essential meals.

— Jess Cording, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026