Synonyms of strangling

strangling

verb

present participle of strangle

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

• choking
• drowning
• stifling
• suffocating
• smothering
• destroying
• asphyxiating
• throttling
• slaying
• garroting
• dispatching
• felling
• croaking
• doing in

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• breathing
• inhaling
• expiring
• inspiring
• reviving
• exhaling
• resuscitating

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

• choking
• throttling
• suffocating
• garroting
• asphyxiating
• stifling
• smothering
• scragging

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• restoring
• reviving
• resuscitating

3

as in stifling

to refrain from openly showing or uttering

strangled a gasp of surprise upon hearing the news

Synonyms & Similar Words

• stifling
• suppressing
• swallowing
• smothering
• repressing
• controlling
• submerging
• containing
• choking (back)
• managing
• holding back
• sinking
• pocketing
• curbing
• governing
• quashing
• checking
• quelling
• bridling
• muffling
• squelching
• bottling up

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• expressing
• releasing
• venting
• taking out
• unleashing
• loosing

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of strangling

The charges allege that Watford struck the woman several times before strangling her with his hands and arm following a dispute inside the room. — Hollie Silverman, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Nov. 2026

Overton was convicted in 1999 of tying up, raping, and strangling Missy MacIvor, who was eight months pregnant. — Ted Scouten, CBS News, 9 Nov. 2026

Months before killing Graves, Nissensohn murdered Sally Jo Tsaggaris, 46, by strangling and stabbing her in Tacoma, Washington. — Michael McGough, Sacbee.com, 5 Nov. 2026

The whole situation devolves from there, with Reed having to shoot Peter to prevent him from strangling her, destroying all of the surveillance tape, and hopping into a getaway car with Zeus and Spitfire after a very cursory search for Vita. — Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 5 Nov. 2026

Clancy is accused of strangling her three children, Cora, 5, Dawson, 3, and 8-month-old Callan, in their Duxbury home. — Alicia Victoria Lozano, NBC news, 29 Oct. 2026

He is accused of strangling and indecently assaulting a 30-year-old female co-worker, prosecutors said. — ABC News, 28 Oct. 2026

Jacobs was arrested and charged with allegedly strangling and suffocating his girlfriend. — Bobby Burack Outkick, FOXNews.com, 28 Oct. 2026

Wandering further afield, Wright recounts the case of Walker Railey, a Methodist minister accused of strangling his wife and leaving her in a vegetative state. — Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2026