1
as in chokes
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
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2
as in throttles
to keep (someone) from breathing by exerting pressure on the windpipe
the boy complained that he was being strangled by his tie
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3
as in stifles
to refrain from openly showing or uttering
strangled a gasp of surprise upon hearing the news
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of strangles
Mostly, though, Boland strangles batters with his suffocating and deadly-accurate line and length.
—
Tim Spiers, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
What starts as an innocent father/daughter college visit takes a shocking turn when Tony brutally strangles a Mob turncoat.
—Dan Snierson, Entertainment Weekly, 27 Dec. 2025
What worked at ten employees strangles progress at one hundred.
—Brent Gleeson, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
At that point, both Hsiao-Lee’s life and our perspective open up toward something more hopeful, even if plenty of turmoil — including another unbearable scene in which Chiang nearly strangles Chuan to death — continues back home.
—Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 4 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for strangles
Verb
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Physical bullying happens when a child hits, kicks, trips, pushes, chokes or otherwise hurts another child.—
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Left to die, breathless and alone, Invisigal chokes while Robert screams from the other end of the comms.—
Verb
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Administrative red tape stifles growth Beyond direct financial costs, small business owners are struggling with a sudden increase in bureaucratic red tape.—
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Over-regulation stifles American growth and aids China in this crucial race for global strength.—
Verb
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Silence starves relevance; invisibility suffocates status.—
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But for this to work, these supercities must have freedom from the bureaucratic maze that suffocates current development.—
Verb
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When enforcement actions sweep through a community, fear suppresses economic activity almost overnight.—
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Plus, the blue light our devices emit suppresses melatonin, the hormone connected to sleep regulation.—
Verb
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Complexity smothers everything, like Japanese knotweed.—
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If either smothers the grass for long periods, this can compact soil and lead to mold problems.—
Verb
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There is also something about a theme park that swallows you up.—
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Once attached, the virus slides along the surface until the cell reshapes itself and swallows the virus inside.—
Verb
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Baseus Noise-cancelling Headphones These noise-cancelling headphones are a must-have for frequent travelers, delivering adaptive noise reduction that drowns out jet engine roar, crying babies, and chatty seatmates for peaceful flights or train rides.—
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About once a year, someone drowns.—
Verb
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Accordingly, the treatments misprescribed can be ineffective at best and harmful at worst, all while the parasite further destroys the cornea.—
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The bill also establishes a Class A misdemeanor if someone, without authorization of the patients, alters, forges, conceals or destroys a request for medication or rescission of a request for medication to affect a health care decision.—
Cite this Entry
“Strangles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/strangles. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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