1
as in to choke
to be or cause to be killed by lack of breathable air
the gull got tangled in a piece of fishing line on the beach and was strangled
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
3
as in to stifle
to refrain from openly showing or uttering
strangled a gasp of surprise upon hearing the news
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of strangle
According to the indictment, McCray is accused of strangling the victim.
—
Angie Dimichele, Sun Sentinel, 3 Feb. 2026
In 2021, Ratray was accused of attempting to strangle his girlfriend.
—Madeline Boardman, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Jan. 2026
His corporal regularly beat him and once tried to strangle him.
—Eve Fairbanks, The Dial, 27 Jan. 2026
Somewhere along the way, the private jet goes down and everybody dies — in excessively painful ways, as Raimi gleefully shows them being sucked out of the plane and strangled by their own neckties — except for Linda and Bradley.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 26 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for strangle
Angie Dimichele, Sun Sentinel, 3 Feb. 2026
In 2021, Ratray was accused of attempting to strangle his girlfriend.
—Madeline Boardman, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Jan. 2026
His corporal regularly beat him and once tried to strangle him.
—Eve Fairbanks, The Dial, 27 Jan. 2026
Somewhere along the way, the private jet goes down and everybody dies — in excessively painful ways, as Raimi gleefully shows them being sucked out of the plane and strangled by their own neckties — except for Linda and Bradley.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 26 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for strangle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for strangle
Verb
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Israeli settler violence and settlement expansion has grown, and daily Palestinian life has been choked by movement restrictions and military raids.—
Daniel Estrin,
NPR,
13 Feb. 2026
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The partygoers don’t really know how to react until Stab interrupts the performance to choke Kid out, and then everyone becomes horrified.—
Alphonse Pierre,
Pitchfork,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The Trojans eventually settled in on offense, but their stifling defense would have to lead the way throughout.—
Ryan Kartje,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Feb. 2026
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Democrats’ Biden-era goals of raising taxes on wealthy Americans and big companies to fund upgrades to health care, education, and clean energy were somewhat stifled by their 50-50 majority.—
Burgess Everett,
semafor.com,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
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When succulents are overwatered, their roots suffocate and die, which usually causes the leaves to turn soft and drop off the plant.—
Madeline Buiano,
Martha Stewart,
16 Feb. 2026
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At its best, Tudor’s out-of-possession approach is suffocating, a full-blooded style that excites fans and sets adrenaline pumping through the team.—
Thom Harris,
New York Times,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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In August 2025, a judge concluded that Vedam had not been given a fair trial due to prosecutors’ efforts to suppress evidence.—
Elizabeth Wolfe,
CNN Money,
17 Feb. 2026
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But dismissing or minimizing disappointment can unintentionally teach children to ignore or suppress emotions.—
Lauryn Higgins,
Parents,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The bun was buttery and slightly sweet, the pickles and mustard lended a bit of tang to the unctuous beef patties smothered in melty American cheese, and the sweet-but-slightly-spicy Sassy Sauce brought it all together without overpowering any other flavors.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
14 Feb. 2026
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The heady sensuality of Aїnouz’s best films (Invisible Life, Madame Satã) is somewhat smothered by the cold cerebral mischief of Filippou’s writing.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Russia wants to swallow Ukraine, even though both nations share Orthodox rites.—
Josef Joffe,
The Atlantic,
14 Feb. 2026
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These are cheap to produce and easy to swallow due to their smooth texture.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Plus, all the discourse surrounding the performance could easily drown out the subtlety of Ford’s inclusion.—
Jamie L. LaReau,
USA Today,
15 Feb. 2026
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Louie’s drinking was a way to drown his grief.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
13 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Strangle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/strangle. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
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