as in stifling
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 choking (back)
Verb
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Arc’teryx base layers hit the trifecta—we’re partial to the Rho line, which use the brand’s Torrent stretch fleece for light (never stifling) warmth and plenty of stretch.—
Kristen Geil,
Outside,
27 Jan. 2026 -
The Blue Devils got 10 points from Patrick Ngongba and used a stifling defense to limit Texas to 32% shooting and force 16 turnovers.—
Lia Assimakopoulos,
Dallas Morning News,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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For decades, business leaders have complained that California’s regulatory climate has overburdened companies across the state, blaming a morass of rules, permits and paperwork for pushing businesses and jobs out of state and holding back economic growth.—
Ethan Varian,
Mercury News,
23 Jan. 2026
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In court filings and a hearing earlier Friday, the states contended that the government did not have a legal reason for holding back the money from those states.—
Geoff Mulvihill,
Twin Cities,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The reduction in volatiles would limit volcanism by suppressing the formation of magma, providing a strong explanation for why the lunar far side contains so few maria.—
Keith Cooper,
Space.com,
23 Jan. 2026
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Different weight loss methods Wave is taking a different approach to weight loss, targeting how the body burns fat rather than suppressing appetite.—
Annika Kim Constantino,
CNBC,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
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People talk about referees swallowing their whistles in the closing seconds of a one-point game.—
Mark Zeigler,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
22 Jan. 2026
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His belittling boasts about swallowing Canada helped drive our nicest neighbor into the arms of China.—
Maureen Dowd,
Mercury News,
21 Jan. 2026
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“Choking (back).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/choking%20%28back%29. Accessed 29 Jan. 2026.
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