choking (back)

verb

Definition of choking (back)next
present participle of choke (back)
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)
  1. stifling
  2. holding back
  3. suppressing
  4. swallowing
Verb
  • Several horses collapsed from heat exhaustion after competing in stifling heat in the middle of the day during the cross-country phase of the eventing.
    — Danielle Rossingh, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Employees hide saved time to avoid more work or scrutiny, stifling innovation.
    — Barnaby Lashbrooke, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of stifling
Verb
  • Soaring prices stemming from the conflict have forced African countries to keep interest rates elevated, holding back growth and adding to already high borrowing costs.
    — Alexander Onukwue, semafor.com, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Marsh was a fearless critic, rarely holding back even with his most caustic and controversial views.
    — Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of holding back
Verb
  • Some popular advice suggests parents on appetite-suppressing medication simply not talk about it or offer vague statements about taking care of their health.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 17 Aug. 2026
  • In that sense, emotional intelligence becomes less about suppressing feelings than directing them productively.
    — Rodger Dean Duncan, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of suppressing
Verb
  • Those include numbness and tingling around the mouth and fingertips, trouble walking, talking or swallowing, sometimes weakness in the upper or lower extremity, balance issues or struggles with episodic memory.
    — Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 18 Aug. 2026
  • According to the nonprofit Poison Control, the dangers of swallowing glass depend on the size and sharpness of the pieces.
    — Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 18 Aug. 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
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Choking (back).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/choking%20%28back%29. Accessed 24 Aug. 2026.

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