1
as in strangles
to keep (someone) from breathing by exerting pressure on the windpipe
let go of my throat—you're choking me!
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
3
as in smothers
to be or cause to be killed by lack of breathable air
thick, black smoke choked the trapped firefighters
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in blocks
to prevent passage through by filling with something
overgrown bushes choked the narrow alleyway between the buildings
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of chokes
In the second season, a patient under the influence wraps his arm around a young nurse’s neck and chokes her until the charge nurse intervenes.
—
Jennifer Obel, Twin Cities, 22 Apr. 2026
Jasmine almost chokes on her corn dog when that comes out of Janet’s mouth.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 9 Apr. 2026
Then Leaphorn appears, knocks her down, and chokes her.
—Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Apr. 2026
Iran war chokes Gulf’s helium exports The war in Iran is choking supplies of helium, vital for technologies from AI chatbots to MRI scanners.
—Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 2 Apr. 2026
Like other invasive plants, stinknet chokes native plants and increases fire risk.
—Shi En Kim, AZCentral.com, 13 Mar. 2026
With fuel and freight prices skyrocketing as war chokes the Strait of Hormuz, the Panama Canal is seeing more business than usual.
—Elizabeth González, CNN Money, 12 Mar. 2026
The Group of Seven finance ministers are set to discuss a possible joint release of oil reserves on Monday, according to people familiar with the matter, as the Middle East war chokes flows from the region and sends prices soaring.
—Alberto Nardelli, Bloomberg, 9 Mar. 2026
Their inclusion on the recent flight comes as the United States chokes the nation’s oil supplies in a bid for negotiations that could end up in regime change, sparking questions about whether Cuba will take more deportations to ease the political and economic pressure.
—Syra Ortiz Blanes, Miami Herald, 19 Feb. 2026
Jennifer Obel, Twin Cities, 22 Apr. 2026
Jasmine almost chokes on her corn dog when that comes out of Janet’s mouth.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 9 Apr. 2026
Then Leaphorn appears, knocks her down, and chokes her.
—Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Apr. 2026
Iran war chokes Gulf’s helium exports The war in Iran is choking supplies of helium, vital for technologies from AI chatbots to MRI scanners.
—Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 2 Apr. 2026
Like other invasive plants, stinknet chokes native plants and increases fire risk.
—Shi En Kim, AZCentral.com, 13 Mar. 2026
With fuel and freight prices skyrocketing as war chokes the Strait of Hormuz, the Panama Canal is seeing more business than usual.
—Elizabeth González, CNN Money, 12 Mar. 2026
The Group of Seven finance ministers are set to discuss a possible joint release of oil reserves on Monday, according to people familiar with the matter, as the Middle East war chokes flows from the region and sends prices soaring.
—Alberto Nardelli, Bloomberg, 9 Mar. 2026
Their inclusion on the recent flight comes as the United States chokes the nation’s oil supplies in a bid for negotiations that could end up in regime change, sparking questions about whether Cuba will take more deportations to ease the political and economic pressure.
—Syra Ortiz Blanes, Miami Herald, 19 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chokes
Verb
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As Iran strangles the Strait of Hormuz, countries have scrambled for alternative routes.—
Samy Magdy,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Mar. 2026
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As Grace looks on in horror, her soon-to-be husband strangles Ursula and snaps her neck.—
Louis Peitzman,
Vulture,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Shows were led by a sentient wad of meat, a talk-show host who vomits in front of guests, and a reality-TV star who never shows his face.—
Eric Vilas-Boas,
Vulture,
18 Mar. 2026
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Absinthe-eyed, she projectile-vomits blunt observations and also oysters onto the heavies, overimbibing her way into her own grave once she’s inevitably discarded with a shot and shove down a stairwell (a barely-there John Magaro plays one of the gangsters).—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Once in flowerbeds and vegetable gardens, the plant depletes potassium necessary for plant health and smothers low-growing plants.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
16 Apr. 2026
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The pieces knit together to form a cast iron surface that sheds water, smothers weeds and holds up for a long time.—
Paul Cappiello,
Louisville Courier Journal,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
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First, Detroit has centers ahead of him in Larkin, Copp and potentially Kasper next season, with Nate Danielson on the way as well, which either complicates Compher’s path to high-lineup playing time or blocks one of the young players.—
Max Bultman,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
-
That put the company strategically on track to potentially go public in the final quarter of 2026—following an $852 billion valuation—unless Musk’s lawsuit blocks the move.—
Ashley Belanger,
ArsTechnica,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Mansfield Legacy throttles Crowley Mansfield Legacy piled on the hits against Crowley Friday, seizing a 17-1 victory in a game that ended after three innings.—
Charles Baggarly,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
11 Apr. 2026
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Records could also be topped in Las Vegas and Phoenix through the weekend as the early-season desert heat wave throttles up.—
Doyle Rice,
USA Today,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Don't tail large vehicles closely - Trucks or buses can kick up a water spray that obstructs visibility.—
KANSAS CITY STAR WEATHER BOT,
Kansas City Star,
27 Apr. 2026
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Don't tail large vehicles closely - Trucks or buses can kick up a water spray that obstructs visibility.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
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That crud jams up the works of your coffee maker, slows brewing down, and impacts the taste of your morning brew.—
Melissa Locker,
Southern Living,
16 Feb. 2026
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The move effectively jams the upper chamber by including the repeal in the funding package without the necessary time to reverse course, giving the Senate no option but to approve it.—
Kaia Hubbard,
CBS News,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Be sure to book weeks ahead — this one fills up fast.—
Lauren Schuster,
Charlotte Observer,
27 Apr. 2026
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The 6-foot-1, 230-pounder fills an obvious hole in Indy’s defense after the team traded multiyear starter and captain Zaire Franklin to the Green Bay Packers last month.—
Sam Warren,
New York Times,
26 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Chokes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chokes. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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