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
It is rolled out to show how Washington and London strangled Iranian democracy in its crib, proving that foreign powers cannot be trusted and that the Islamic Republic is, at worst, a necessary evil.
—
Bobby Ghosh, Time, 5 Mar. 2026
He’s charged with strangling his former chef in December.
—Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 5 Mar. 2026
However, things take a turn in his favor when a woman is found strangled to death in the trunk of a car.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 3 Mar. 2026
Benjamin Robinson, president of the University of Missouri-Kansas City’s design and planning student group, lives in South Plaza and said parking minimums strangle the city out of making housing more affordable.
—Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 25 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for strangle
Bobby Ghosh, Time, 5 Mar. 2026
He’s charged with strangling his former chef in December.
—Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 5 Mar. 2026
However, things take a turn in his favor when a woman is found strangled to death in the trunk of a car.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 3 Mar. 2026
Benjamin Robinson, president of the University of Missouri-Kansas City’s design and planning student group, lives in South Plaza and said parking minimums strangle the city out of making housing more affordable.
—Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 25 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for strangle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for strangle
Verb
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Iran may soon run out of drones, yet has other asymmetrical options – such as choking the Strait of Hormuz or plotting terror on foreign soil – that can irritate the US and disrupt peace.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN Money,
6 Mar. 2026
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Chan then forced Tay to drink rubbing alcohol and sealed his moth with duct tape — forcing him to choke on his own vomit — before burying him in the makeshift grave.—
Sean Emery,
Oc Register,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Though some have argued that China’s abundant energy and manufacturing capacity give it an edge in the global AI race, Chinese executives say Washington’s restrictions on sales of the most advanced semiconductors are stifling the country’s AI development.—
Jeronimo Gonzalez,
semafor.com,
13 Mar. 2026
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But waning financial support, due in part to a animal rights group targeting national sponsors, has shrunk the purse while inflation is stifling young mushers trying to make a go of it.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
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During such executions, inmates breathe in pure nitrogen gas through a mask, eventually displacing all the oxygen in their body and suffocating them.—
Amanda Lee Myers,
USA Today,
10 Mar. 2026
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Anthony Edwards scored 34 points, but the Magic suffocated his supporting cast.—
Jon Krawczynski,
New York Times,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Bondi wants to suppress, or at least stall, state Bar investigations against them.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
10 Mar. 2026
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Which stories persist, which fade and which are actively suppressed are decisions increasingly made by private companies rather than public institutions.—
Arnaud Kurze,
The Conversation,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Less than a mile away, the corps is planning to deepen and widen the shipping channel leading into Port Everglades, blasting through the reef line and dredging up sediment that could smother acres of surrounding coral, according to federal scientists.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
8 Mar. 2026
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However, improving the soil in a lawn is more difficult because adding more than 1 inch of organic matter as a top-dressing can smother the grass.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Bella Hadid, however, has been bucking this trend throughout her time in Paris and beyond, largely opting for denim that highlights her footwear rather than swallowing them up.—
Emily Tannenbaum,
Glamour,
7 Mar. 2026
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Phillipsburg declared a state of emergency last month when a sinkhole swallowed a dump truck.—
Nick Caloway,
CBS News,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
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George Seda, the police boss in Nairobi, said Saturday that six people drowned and two others were electrocuted, warning that the death toll may rise as search and rescue operations continue.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
7 Mar. 2026
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When Christina drowns herself for a second time, Baron Frankenstein is confronted by the unpredictability of stitching together dead flesh—his female creation is capable of reckoning with her past suffering.—
Rory Doherty,
Time,
7 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Strangle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/strangle. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.
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