1
as in to choke
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
3
as in to stifle
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 strangle
Horner told a false story about hitting the little girl with his van and then strangling her in a panic, according to testimony of the case’s lead investigator, Texas Ranger Job Espinoza.
—
Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Apr. 2026
The 33-year-old nursing student and mother of two had been stabbed dozens of times and strangled inside her home in Tonawanda that year.
—ABC News, 24 Apr. 2026
With the Iran war continuing to strangle Middle East oil supplies, public transit agencies looking to add passengers might expect high gas prices to incentivize people to ride the rails more than ever.
—Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2026
This month, Willacy testified to spare the life of Miami killer Rafael Andres, who a jury said should be condemned to die for the beating, stabbing and strangling of a La Carreta waitress in 2005.
—Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 23 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for strangle
Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Apr. 2026
The 33-year-old nursing student and mother of two had been stabbed dozens of times and strangled inside her home in Tonawanda that year.
—ABC News, 24 Apr. 2026
With the Iran war continuing to strangle Middle East oil supplies, public transit agencies looking to add passengers might expect high gas prices to incentivize people to ride the rails more than ever.
—Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2026
This month, Willacy testified to spare the life of Miami killer Rafael Andres, who a jury said should be condemned to die for the beating, stabbing and strangling of a La Carreta waitress in 2005.
—Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 23 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for strangle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for strangle
Verb
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The victims, who died from smoke inhalation, might have made it out of the Belmont building alive if their neighbors had closed their doors and choked the oxygen that fed the massive five-alarm fire on Tuesday afternoon.—
Julian Roberts-Grmela,
New York Daily News,
24 Apr. 2026
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In November 2025, Biggs was preparing for practice in the locker room when Hebert allegedly approached another teammate and choked him in response to a post on Instagram, according to the lawsuit.—
Laura Fay,
CBS News,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The rest of the film is filled with such stifling cuts, with scenes that dispense information without exploring it.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Both are critical of Measure ULA, which has stifled development across the city.—
The Editorial Board,
Daily News,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Buffalo’s forecheck was suffocating.—
Matthew Fairburn,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
-
The Broncos went 15-4 last year, testing the expiration dates on miracle finishes, while suffocating opponents with a relentless defense.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Fungicides, for instance, are used to suppress disease-causing pathogens like blights and leaf spots, but might also impact beneficial microbes that live in flowers.—
Miri Talabac,
Baltimore Sun,
28 Apr. 2026
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Researchers from the University of Bristol in England and the University at Buffalo in New York found that people actively trying to suppress food cravings were more likely to spend time watching indulgent food content online — yet ended up eating less of it afterward.—
Deirdre Bardolf,
FOXNews.com,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Jaka Bijol could not get a handle on Joao Pedro, Ethan Ampadu and Ao Tanaka were overrun in midfield, and Tosin Adarabioyo smothered Dominic Calvert-Lewin.—
Beren Cross,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
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If roots are buried too deeply, they can be smothered.—
Beth Botts,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Starbucks was going to swallow everything.—
Saïd Sayrafiezadeh,
New Yorker,
26 Apr. 2026
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After a week where everything that could have gone wrong did and the noise surrounding the club threatened to swallow the team whole, the Red Sox finally broke their four-game slide in grand fashion and got to enjoy a nice, drama-free win.—
Mac Cerullo,
Hartford Courant,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Esa Lindell, Heiskanen’s primary partner, has been drowning at five-on-five, and the Stars have been outscored 5-0 with him on the ice.—
Mark Lazerus,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
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Some appear to be cordially greeting viewers with a wave, while others evince the desperation of a person drowning.—
Dawn Chan,
The New York Review of Books,
25 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Strangle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/strangle. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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