1
as in choking
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
as in throttling
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
3
as in stifling
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 strangling
Jorge Landeros, 56, was sentenced to 25 years in prison more than a decade after reportedly fatally beating and strangling a 52-year-old American University accounting professor in her Maryland home.
—
Arkansas Online, 13 Mar. 2026
In 2013, Ricks killed his girlfriend and her 8-year-old son in a Bedford apartment to eliminate them as witnesses in a then-pending assault case in which he was accused of strangling her.
—Emerson Clarridge
updated March 12, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 Mar. 2026
He’s charged with strangling his former chef in December.
—Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 5 Mar. 2026
Becky is dehydrated and delirious, but manages to nourish herself after strangling and eating a vulture that attacked her on the platform.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 20 Feb. 2026
With a three-decade record of violent crime that includes strangling a pregnant woman and firing a shotgun under a person's chin, McKay was scheduled to stand trial next month on methamphetamine trafficking charges that could have locked him up for 25 years.
—ABC News, 19 Feb. 2026
Elsewhere, Dennis Basso achieved a similar neck-strangling effect using lace, this time in black dotted with sequins and, of course, ostrich feathers.
—Ari Stark, Footwear News, 17 Feb. 2026
Reuters reported that the medals featured a safety clip, intended to snap off when pulled forcefully to prevent the ribbon from strangling.
—Juliana Kim, NPR, 12 Feb. 2026
The Federal Reserve is handcuffed, unable to cut rates without reigniting inflation, yet unable to hold them without strangling growth.
—Katica Roy, Fortune, 10 Feb. 2026
Arkansas Online, 13 Mar. 2026
In 2013, Ricks killed his girlfriend and her 8-year-old son in a Bedford apartment to eliminate them as witnesses in a then-pending assault case in which he was accused of strangling her.
—Emerson Clarridge
updated March 12, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 Mar. 2026
He’s charged with strangling his former chef in December.
—Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 5 Mar. 2026
Becky is dehydrated and delirious, but manages to nourish herself after strangling and eating a vulture that attacked her on the platform.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 20 Feb. 2026
With a three-decade record of violent crime that includes strangling a pregnant woman and firing a shotgun under a person's chin, McKay was scheduled to stand trial next month on methamphetamine trafficking charges that could have locked him up for 25 years.
—ABC News, 19 Feb. 2026
Elsewhere, Dennis Basso achieved a similar neck-strangling effect using lace, this time in black dotted with sequins and, of course, ostrich feathers.
—Ari Stark, Footwear News, 17 Feb. 2026
Reuters reported that the medals featured a safety clip, intended to snap off when pulled forcefully to prevent the ribbon from strangling.
—Juliana Kim, NPR, 12 Feb. 2026
The Federal Reserve is handcuffed, unable to cut rates without reigniting inflation, yet unable to hold them without strangling growth.
—Katica Roy, Fortune, 10 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for strangling
Verb
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Israel attacked oil depots on Sunday, igniting huge fires that smothered Tehran in thick, choking smoke, amid what residents have said is the heaviest bombing of the war so far.—
Patrick Reevell,
ABC News,
10 Mar. 2026
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This often results in a choking, snorting, or gasping sound as normal breathing resumes.—
Daniel Combs,
Verywell Health,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
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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
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With no discernable reason beyond intimidation, Hasner approved this staggering waste of taxpayer funds, stifling the First Amendment right of peaceable assembly.—
Karen J. Leader,
Sun Sentinel,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Following November elections, 21 individuals will undertake the daunting task of funding and running a massive school system drowning in debt and facing a highly uncertain future demanding the making of difficult decisions.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Mar. 2026
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For the most part, that’s what happened, and for the third consecutive season, a drowning defense sunk a year of Joe Burrow’s prime.—
Paul Dehner Jr,
New York Times,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Kamphoff advises that parents model productive behavior to show kids how to manage their negative emotions, rather than suppressing them.—
Tom Huddleston Jr.,
CNBC,
13 Mar. 2026
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The deportations to Eswatini, a tiny kingdom bordering South Africa, where the king has full power and has been accused of suppressing pro-democracy movements, have sparked protests from civic groups there.—
Nokukhanya Musi,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
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After all, Washington-Wilkes had found success suffocating other teams’ offenses, allowing just 36 points per game in its four playoff wins.—
Chip Saye,
AJC.com,
12 Mar. 2026
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The stiff feel, plus the suffocating heat of summer in NYC, is a recipe for disaster.—
Genevieve Cepeda,
Travel + Leisure,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
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However, people with swallowing issues could be in danger due to weaker muscle tone and a loss of sensory input, Duyka said.—
Sandee LaMotte,
CNN Money,
10 Mar. 2026
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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
Verb
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The series centers on Bode (Max Thieriot), an ex-con who finds redemption and purpose while smothering flames with the Cal Fire program.—
Allison DeGrushe,
Entertainment Weekly,
27 Feb. 2026
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This list includes invasive species that spread across the landscape, smothering everything in their path (like kudzu, of course), as well as fast-growing native species, like trumpet vine and Virginia creeper, which spread quickly and can become a nuisance in yards and gardens.—
Steve Bender,
Southern Living,
19 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Strangling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/strangling. Accessed 17 Mar. 2026.
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