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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The defense is historically stifling.—
Joel Lorenzi,
New York Times,
20 Apr. 2026 -
The bill, which passed with another similar piece of legislation aimed at limiting protests around houses of worship, has drawn concerns about stifling free speech rights, especially for pro-Palestine protests.—
Josephine Stratman,
New York Daily News,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
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As multiple world powers invest heavily in Ukrainian expertise and joint production with the Ukrainian government and private companies, only the Pentagon is holding back.—
Trudy Rubin,
Mercury News,
24 Apr. 2026
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As each mourner spoke, some holding back tears and others sobbing, Metayer’s family watched in loving silence.—
Devoun Cetoute,
Miami Herald,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The drug has already taught the field that powerfully suppressing this key cancer driver actually works.—
Lisa Jarvis,
Mercury News,
23 Apr. 2026
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By suppressing appetite, the body can direct more energy toward the immune response.—
Jasna Hodžić,
Big Think,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Popular with airboaters, froggers and fishermen, the swampy muck beneath the water may have acted as a pincushion, essentially swallowing the disabled DC-9 aircraft.—
Miami Herald Archives,
Miami Herald,
21 Apr. 2026
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Avoid swallowing water while swimming.—
Stephen Underwood,
Hartford Courant,
19 Apr. 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 26 Apr. 2026.
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