as in to choke
to keep (someone) from breathing by exerting pressure on the windpipe
I was so angry at what he was saying that I could have throttled him!
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 throttle
But given a chance to keep the cash that Biden had sent the State flowing, Trump has decided to throttle it back.
—
Philip Elliott, Time, 29 May 2025
Even throttling flights has not put and end to chronic delays at the airport.
—Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 28 May 2025
Interestingly, both of the films were released before the first nightmare throttled the entertainment industry in 2020.
—Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025
The Nerazzurri have good players, but their back three system, which Antonio Conte passed on to Simone Inzaghi, can throttle the aggression up or down.
—Brett Koremenos, New York Times, 30 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for throttle
Philip Elliott, Time, 29 May 2025
Even throttling flights has not put and end to chronic delays at the airport.
—Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 28 May 2025
Interestingly, both of the films were released before the first nightmare throttled the entertainment industry in 2020.
—Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025
The Nerazzurri have good players, but their back three system, which Antonio Conte passed on to Simone Inzaghi, can throttle the aggression up or down.
—Brett Koremenos, New York Times, 30 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for throttle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for throttle
Verb
-
Officers then spoke to the second victim, who said Bonds slammed them to the floor and choked them as well.—
Michelle L. Quinn,
Chicago Tribune,
23 June 2025
-
Its options are widely considered to include retaliation against U.S. forces in the region as well as choking a major global oil supply route, the Strait of Hormuz.—
Mandy Taheri,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 June 2025
Verb
-
Progressives say Connecticut has over-corrected for past fiscal mistakes, saving excessively and strangling core programs, even in times of high inflation or shrinking federal aid.—
Keith M. Phaneuf,
Hartford Courant,
17 June 2025
-
There was another path—to strangle the regime and empower the people.—
Nazanin Boniadi,
Time,
17 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Throttle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/throttle. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share