as in stifling
to refrain from openly showing or uttering
choked back a sarcastic reply to an insulting question
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for choking (back)
Verb
-
Though some have argued that China’s abundant energy and manufacturing capacity give it an edge in the global AI race, Chinese executives say Washington’s restrictions on sales of the most advanced semiconductors are stifling the country’s AI development.—
Jeronimo Gonzalez,
semafor.com,
13 Mar. 2026 -
But both clubs were involved in the Club World Cup in the summer, playing in stifling heat.—
James Horncastle,
New York Times,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Claire, holding back tears, attempts CPR.—
Maggie Fremont,
Vulture,
20 Mar. 2026
-
Women’s sports is no different, and placing expectations for greater decorum on it is a way of holding back the game’s growth.—
Emma Hinchliffe,
Fortune,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Broken player economics, including the lack of a salary cap, is suppressing MLB multiples, according to one private equity executive, who declined to speak on the record.—
Luisa Beltran,
Sportico.com,
18 Mar. 2026
-
The Basij forces are a volunteer paramilitary militia, a branch of Iran's Revolutionary Guard, which Israel says was responsible for violently suppressing street protests against the Iranian government earlier this year.—
NPR Staff,
NPR,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Symptoms usually begin six hours to six days after swallowing the bacteria.—
GMA Team,
ABC News,
17 Mar. 2026
-
Last year’s best actor, Adrien Brody, made amends for flinging chewing gum at his wife by swallowing a fresh wad of it (and his pride).—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Mar. 2026
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.
Cite this Entry
“Choking (back).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/choking%20%28back%29. Accessed 24 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
