CHOKING (BACK) Synonyms: 28 Similar and Opposite Words

choking (back)

verb

Definition of choking (back)

present participle of choke (back)

as in stifling

to refrain from openly showing or uttering choked back a sarcastic reply to an insulting question

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for choking (back)

Verb

Companies often measure past performance, stifling creativity and failing to predict future success.

— Nir Bashan, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
Unfortunately for them, passersby appeared to be much more concerned about the stifling 100-degree heat dome that settled over the city with particular ferocity.

— Clarence Page, Chicago Tribune, 20 July 2026

Definition of stifling

Verb

While the Illigs are still part of Sporting KC’s day-to-day operations — and maintain their seat on the MLS’ Board of Governors — Mallouk doesn’t seem to be holding back on his own involvement.

— Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 15 July 2026
Many CEOs who run this experiment are surprised by how much intelligence the team had been holding back.

— Janet M Harvey, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026

Definition of holding back

Verb

What is left of a sprawling state apparatus is capable of little more than paying poverty wages to its employees, running hospitals with dwindling supplies, and suppressing any popular challenge to the heirs of Chavez.

— Rafael Osío Cabrices, Time, 20 July 2026
The ground robots established a support-by-fire position, suppressing the Russian defenders and forcing them to remain under cover.

— Vikram Mittal, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026

Definition of suppressing

Verb

Depending on how much toxin was consumed, symptoms may start within a few hours and may include trouble swallowing, speaking and breathing, nausea and blurred vision.

— Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 25 July 2026
Artificial intelligence is swallowing another industry, another round of layoffs, another set of jobs that are not coming back.

— Sergei Kaminskiy, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026

Definition of swallowing

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.

Browse Nearby Words

choking

choking (back)

choking off

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“Choking (back).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/choking%20%28back%29. Accessed 27 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of choking (back)

verb

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