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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of strangling
Later that month, another jury said Rafael Andres should be sent back to Florida’s Death Row for beating, stabbing and strangling a La Carreta waitress with a rice cooker cord in 2005.
—
Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 7 Jan. 2026
This month, 11 alleged TdA members were indicted in New Mexico, accused of kidnapping, brutally interrogating and strangling to death a man in Albuquerque and burying his body in a remote desert grave, The Center Square reported.
—Center Square, The Washington Examiner, 5 Jan. 2026
The San Francisco District Attorney announced Wednesday that the man accused of strangling his dog to death in public has been charged.
—Jose Fabian, CBS News, 1 Jan. 2026
In 2021, Bryan pled guilty to two misdemeanor charges of domestic violence after being accused of strangling a woman.
—Brianne Tracy, PEOPLE, 30 Dec. 2025
Viverette is also accused of strangling his girlfriend and taking her dog earlier on Tuesday.
—Pj Green, Kansas City Star, 12 Dec. 2025
Pieper's ex-boyfriend allegedly admitted to strangling her, hiding her body in a suitcase and burying it in the forest.
—Sophia Compton, FOXNews.com, 30 Nov. 2025
China, in turn, imposed new strangling restrictions on the export of seven rare earth minerals.
—Mira Rapp-Hooper, Foreign Affairs, 29 Oct. 2025
Prosecutors accuse Haile of strangling Kathleen Carrig, then setting fire to their apartment with gasoline, the outlet reported.
—Jenna Sundel, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025
Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 7 Jan. 2026
This month, 11 alleged TdA members were indicted in New Mexico, accused of kidnapping, brutally interrogating and strangling to death a man in Albuquerque and burying his body in a remote desert grave, The Center Square reported.
—Center Square, The Washington Examiner, 5 Jan. 2026
The San Francisco District Attorney announced Wednesday that the man accused of strangling his dog to death in public has been charged.
—Jose Fabian, CBS News, 1 Jan. 2026
In 2021, Bryan pled guilty to two misdemeanor charges of domestic violence after being accused of strangling a woman.
—Brianne Tracy, PEOPLE, 30 Dec. 2025
Viverette is also accused of strangling his girlfriend and taking her dog earlier on Tuesday.
—Pj Green, Kansas City Star, 12 Dec. 2025
Pieper's ex-boyfriend allegedly admitted to strangling her, hiding her body in a suitcase and burying it in the forest.
—Sophia Compton, FOXNews.com, 30 Nov. 2025
China, in turn, imposed new strangling restrictions on the export of seven rare earth minerals.
—Mira Rapp-Hooper, Foreign Affairs, 29 Oct. 2025
Prosecutors accuse Haile of strangling Kathleen Carrig, then setting fire to their apartment with gasoline, the outlet reported.
—Jenna Sundel, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for strangling
Verb
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Along with two similar choking incidents at protests outside of ICE facilities, this is one of the few videos in which the run-up to the violence is clear.—
Nicole Foy,
ProPublica,
13 Jan. 2026
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Several months before the killing, Garner was arrested and convicted of assault and false imprisonment for violently attacking Mykkanen, including choking her and threatening to kill her.—
Robert Salonga,
Mercury News,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Moore’s task against Indiana’s stifling defense would have been daunting even with all his weapons.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
10 Jan. 2026
-
The immense costs associated with the program have only worsened the economic situation, leading to a more stifling environment.—
Isaac Chotiner,
New Yorker,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Of course, the Weeknd has long romanticized his own self-destruction, but here, as the water fills his lungs, death finally loses its glamour—there’s nothing romantic about a man incapable of or unwilling to save himself from drowning.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
14 Jan. 2026
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Now Lachlan was drowning alone.—
Gabriel Sherman,
Vanity Fair,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
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There’s plenty to like about both veteran pitchers and reason to believe that competing in a home run-suppressing environment will allow their attributes to play up.—
Andrew Baggarly,
New York Times,
6 Jan. 2026
-
Foulk argued Barrett was suppressing evidence by preventing the state from presenting certain tax returns and Illinois Department of Revenue testimony.—
Addison Wright,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The silence in that room — not just from the Doppler, but in the air — was suffocating.—
Hannah Sacks,
PEOPLE,
6 Jan. 2026
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The infinite view from the high-floor oceanfront room was consistently breathtaking, service was high-end yet not suffocating, and the food and beverage offerings were top tier.—
Emily Adler,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Any muscles used for movement — including those involved in speaking, chewing, swallowing, seeing, blinking, breathing and walking — can be affected.—
Desiree Anello,
PEOPLE,
10 Jan. 2026
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To save humankind, a geophysicist living with early-onset Alzheimer’s is recruited to investigate the vast void swallowing the oceans.—
Rafa Sales Ross,
Variety,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Mired by the Texans’ smothering defense, Rodgers completed 17-of-33 passes for 146 yards, with no touchdowns, one interception and two fumbles.—
Anna Lazarus Caplan,
PEOPLE,
13 Jan. 2026
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That is some smothering defense!—
Zach Harper,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Strangling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/strangling. Accessed 15 Jan. 2026.
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