1
as in strangling
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
as in vomiting
to experience complete or partial blockage of the windpipe
the recommended procedure for helping someone who is choking
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
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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4
as in blocking
to prevent passage through by filling with something
overgrown bushes choked the narrow alleyway between the buildings
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of choking
Now, if only Herbert could stop choking in the playoffs.
—
Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 22 Mar. 2026
He was arrested at multiple conventions, as well as for choking his then-girlfriend in 2015.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 21 Mar. 2026
Videos on social media of people intentionally choking themselves to get a brief euphoric high, often called the blackout challenge, have been circulating for years.
—J.d. Miles, CBS News, 19 Mar. 2026
And the skeptics say this is all corporate hype chasing billions in investment while the actual tech sputters with hallucinations and errors, choking on real-world problems.
—Joe Hagan, Vanity Fair, 18 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for choking
Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 22 Mar. 2026
He was arrested at multiple conventions, as well as for choking his then-girlfriend in 2015.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 21 Mar. 2026
Videos on social media of people intentionally choking themselves to get a brief euphoric high, often called the blackout challenge, have been circulating for years.
—J.d. Miles, CBS News, 19 Mar. 2026
And the skeptics say this is all corporate hype chasing billions in investment while the actual tech sputters with hallucinations and errors, choking on real-world problems.
—Joe Hagan, Vanity Fair, 18 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for choking
Recent Examples of Synonyms for choking
Verb
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In early January 2025, police were called to the Aliquippa VFW when Ours was accused of repeatedly punching and strangling another man, later identified as Preston Coleman.—
Mike Darnay,
CBS News,
17 Mar. 2026
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Jorge Landeros, 56, was sentenced to 25 years in prison more than a decade after reportedly fatally beating and strangling a 52-year-old American University accounting professor in her Maryland home.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Worrisome symptoms that warrant a call to a doctor include dizziness, ongoing diarrhea with a fever over 102 degrees and an inability to keep liquids down without vomiting.—
Erika Edwards,
NBC news,
27 Mar. 2026
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Research shows that 81 percent of mountaineers experience nausea and/or vomiting as a result.—
Brad Stulberg,
Outside,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Each year in the United States, drowning causes roughly 4,500 deaths, while infections from brain-eating amoebas typically number only two or three.—
Alejandro Hortal-Sánchez,
The Conversation,
24 Mar. 2026
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Children with autism are at heightened risk of drowning for the issues Na’Sean’s parents described, experts say.—
Richard Tribou,
The Orlando Sentinel,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The staffers have also been blocking driveways, forcing WGA managers to wait for several minutes before entering or exiting the SAG-AFTRA parking garage.—
Gene Maddaus,
Variety,
27 Mar. 2026
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The military conflict is blocking the flow of oil and natural gas and impacting the availability of fertilizers derived from those products, according to industry groups.—
Zac Anderson,
USA Today,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
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He was convicted in 2019 of seven felonies, including obstructing a congressional inquiry, lying to investigators under oath and attempting to block witness testimony.—
Mary Ramsey,
Charlotte Observer,
27 Mar. 2026
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The driver was booked on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon and obstructing or delaying an officer, police said.—
Sydney Barragan,
Oc Register,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Residents, saying they were surprised by the zoning, began jamming township meetings beginning in May 2023.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
27 Mar. 2026
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Russia has invested in its own military technology, developing unmanned vehicles and signal-jamming systems that can strike targets deep behind Ukrainian lines.—
Olivier Kempf,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Tune Into the Rhythm of Filipino Festivals After a nearly three-year hiatus due to the pandemic, festivals across the Philippines are once again taking the stage, filling up the events calendar with vivacious celebrations of local culture and tradition.—
Condé Nast Traveler,
Condé Nast Traveler,
28 Mar. 2026
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Now the pair are filling the former Slab space with trout that swims in chive beurre blanc; burgers crowned with a range of French cheeses; and expertly made baguettes that receive smears of butter d’Isigny.—
Stephanie Breijo,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Choking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/choking. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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