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

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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 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 Iran strangles the Strait of Hormuz, countries have scrambled for alternative routes. — Samy Magdy, Los Angeles Times, 28 Mar. 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

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
Landscape fabric suffocates microorganisms, blocks nutrients, and degrades into microplastics.

— Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 July 2026

Definition of suffocates

Verb

Its Hybrid Active Noise Cancellation effectively suppresses low-frequency drone and office chatter, while custom 40mm drivers deliver rich, balanced sound reinforced by Ultra Bass technology.

— Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 8 Sep. 2026
Ambiguity suppresses adoption more effectively than skepticism.

— Pankaj Prasoon, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of suppresses

Verb

The writing — and its sometimes baffling aversion to the source material — is at the heart of the problem, but there’s plenty of blame to go around, from hammy acting to a cartoonish tone that smothers the whole affair.

— James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 11 Aug. 2026
Up in the attic, a melty miasma smothers the thick winter coats, which hurt me to even look at.

— Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 15 June 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

Among other things, Hinduism reveres femininity through the worship of powerful goddesses, including Saraswati, the goddess of wisdom; Kali, the goddess who destroys evil and ego; and Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity.

— Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 8 Sep. 2026
Laser destroys 11 drones in 10 days US forces have stopped around 300 drones allegedly linked to cartels since the beginning of 2026.

— Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of destroys

Browse Nearby Words

strangleholds

strangles

strangling

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Style

“Strangles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/strangles. Accessed 15 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of strangles

verb

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