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!

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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 He got thrown into a hot spot in December, however, against Cleveland after Jerry Jeudy spent much of a Monday night game throttling veteran Levi Wallace. Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 1 Apr. 2025 The rocket's nine engines, burning a mix of liquid propane and liquid oxygen, throttled up to generate more than 150,000 pounds (675 kilonewtons) of thrust as Spectrum began a vertical climb from the launch pad. Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 31 Mar. 2025 When disasters have struck in the past, like Cyclone Mocha in 2023 and Cyclone Nargis in 2008, the military government avoided asking for international assistance and throttled aid in areas not under its control. Lynsey Chutel, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025 In blowing up the drone factories, ironically with drones, the Ukrainian intelligence agency hopes to throttle Russian production—and ensure that most of the tiny UAVs buzzing over the front line ... are Ukrainian. Follow me on Twitter. David Axe, Forbes, 15 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for throttle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for throttle
Verb
  • Are there really women out there who want Badgley to put on his Joe Goldberg cap and choke them?
    Judy Berman, Time, 24 Apr. 2025
  • Southern California has been choked by smog since the mass adoption of the automobile.
    Terry Castleman, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • According to prosecutors, Stinnett briefly regained consciousness and tried to fight back before Montgomery strangled her to death.
    Nicole Acosta, People.com, 19 Apr. 2025
  • Before police could arrest him, Jane Doe told deputies from the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office about other times Betancourt battered and strangled her.
    Bay City News Service, Mercury News, 13 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Throttle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/throttle. Accessed 5 May. 2025.

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