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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Moore’s task against Indiana’s stifling defense would have been daunting even with all his weapons.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
10 Jan. 2026 -
The immense costs associated with the program have only worsened the economic situation, leading to a more stifling environment.—
Isaac Chotiner,
New Yorker,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
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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
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Former New York City Mayor Eric Adams isn’t holding back in his response to Andy Cohen‘s criticism during Wednesday night’s CNN’s New Year’s Eve Live special with Anderson Cooper.—
Lexi Carson,
HollywoodReporter,
2 Jan. 2026
Verb
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There’s plenty to like about both veteran pitchers and reason to believe that competing in a home run-suppressing environment will allow their attributes to play up.—
Andrew Baggarly,
New York Times,
6 Jan. 2026
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Foulk argued Barrett was suppressing evidence by preventing the state from presenting certain tax returns and Illinois Department of Revenue testimony.—
Addison Wright,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Any muscles used for movement — including those involved in speaking, chewing, swallowing, seeing, blinking, breathing and walking — can be affected.—
Desiree Anello,
PEOPLE,
10 Jan. 2026
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To save humankind, a geophysicist living with early-onset Alzheimer’s is recruited to investigate the vast void swallowing the oceans.—
Rafa Sales Ross,
Variety,
9 Jan. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Choking (back).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/choking%20%28back%29. Accessed 17 Jan. 2026.
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