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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Recent Examples of Synonyms for choking (back)

Verb

The senator, who has introduced bipartisan legislation aimed at addressing AI safety risks, stressed that any new regulation should be targeted and sensitive to concerns about stifling global competitiveness.

— Kevin Breuninger, CNBC, 16 Sep. 2026
Trapped together in the heavy, stifling isolation of the summer heat, the siblings’ bond begins to shift into something unsettling and difficult to define.

— Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of stifling

Verb

Sally’s Reckoning With Her Magic Much of the sequel’s emotional arc, per Hoffman, belongs to Sally finally making peace with the very power she’s spent decades suppressing.

— Lexy Perez, HollywoodReporter, 10 Sep. 2026
The party is often lauded for steering the tiny nation toward economic prosperity but has also been criticized for suppressing dissent.

— John Liu, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of suppressing

Verb

Gap’s barrel jeans provide that feature without swallowing my short frame, as some wide-legs jeans do.

— Rylee Johnston, PEOPLE, 9 Sep. 2026
On Tuesday, September 8, a massive, 30-by-30-foot sinkhole opened directly in front of a Malibu oceanfront home reportedly belonging to Cage, swallowing his driveway whole.

— Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 9 Sep. 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 22 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of choking (back)

verb

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