STRANGLES Synonyms: 50 Similar and Opposite Words

strangles

verb

Definition of strangles

present tense third-person singular of strangle

as in chokes

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in throttles

to keep (someone) from breathing by exerting pressure on the windpipe the boy complained that he was being strangled by his tie

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in stifles

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

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.

Recent Examples of strangles More news Heat sets new records as oppressive humidity strangles Southern California. — Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 10 Sep. 2026 Adler said studies show that when one partner strangles another, the likelihood of a victim being killed by that partner goes up 750%. — Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 28 July 2026 By the end of the show, Daya’s addiction has turned her into the prison’s drug lord, and her mother strangles her during the series finale. — Gwen Ihnat, Entertainment Weekly, 11 July 2026 But the same instinct that makes a founder indispensable early is exactly what strangles the organization later. — Daria Rudnik, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026 Nate comes back to life and strangles Cassie in a dark green Bottega Veneta suit, then Maddy saves her. — Savannah Walsh, Vanity Fair, 29 May 2026 Over-regulation strangles the economy! — Teri Sforza, Oc Register, 28 May 2026 Ground cover plants around trees can lead to root girdling—where the cover essentially strangles the tree, threatening its health. — Lee Wallender, The Spruce, 30 Apr. 2026 As Grace looks on in horror, her soon-to-be husband strangles Ursula and snaps her neck. — Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 20 Mar. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for strangles

Verb

One boy loops his arm around the student’s neck and chokes him.

— Jennifer Smith Richards, ProPublica, 24 July 2026
Remove chokes from artichokes and steam in small amount of water for 15 minutes, adding water to pan as needed.

— Philip Potempa, Chicago Tribune, 26 June 2026

Definition of chokes

Verb

Opponents argue the proposal weakens environmental protections, stifles community input and could fast-track projects like data centers and freeways.

— Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026
In time, this silence erodes trust, stifles creativity and turns minor problems into serious issues.

— Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of stifles

Verb

Coffee grounds settle into these gaps, creating a layer that suffocates the roots and leads to root rot.

— Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Sep. 2026
Amazon also faces another sweeping lawsuit by the FTC and 17 states that paints the company as a monopolist that suffocates competitors and raises costs for both sellers and shoppers.

— Alina Selyukh, NPR, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of suffocates

Verb

The circumstances are objectively potent — but Udofia smothers them in such a barrage of cutesiness and self-conscious signalling that a wall rises between us and the play.

— Sara Holdren, Vulture, 2 Oct. 2026
Instead, City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma rushes out and smothers the ball.

— Jon Mackenzie, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of smothers

Verb

Social Security swallows nearly a quarter of the federal budget and is less than a decade away from insolvency.

— Andrew G. Biggs, Washington Post, 28 Aug. 2026
If your dog swallows these fibers, it can get caught up in the digestive tract like hair in plumbing and create a blockage.

— BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of swallows

Verb

The quality of the coffee seems a bit underwhelming, and its bitterness drowns out much of the perceptible campfire-ness.

— Jared Kaufman, Twin Cities, 1 Sep. 2026
With notable traffic boosts over the Android competition guaranteeing more digital inches and headlines, the associated media coverage drowns out alternatives.

— Ewan Spence, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2026

Definition of drowns

Verb

Jains typically do not eat root vegetables because harvesting them destroys the whole plant and harms life-forms around it.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Sep. 2026
How IonQ cracked error correction Since making measurements of a qubit destroys its quantum state, researchers can only gather information about their syndromes to know if the qubit has accumulated an error or not.

— Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 23 Sep. 2026

Definition of destroys

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strangleholds

strangles

strangling

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“Strangles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/strangles. Accessed 6 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of strangles

verb

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