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
Relevance
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
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
This determines whether Precinct 4 thrives or chokes on its own growth.
—Rachel Royster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Feb. 2026
Bond chokes Blofeld, who quickly dies from the virus.
—Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 28 Jan. 2026
Much of the work focused on pulling out English ivy, an invasive vine known for slowly killing trees, and clearing debris that chokes the forest floor.
—Brian Unger, CBS News, 19 Jan. 2026
Physical bullying happens when a child hits, kicks, trips, pushes, chokes or otherwise hurts another child.
—Dr. Mahvash Madni, Boston Herald, 4 Jan. 2026
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
This determines whether Precinct 4 thrives or chokes on its own growth.
—Rachel Royster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Feb. 2026
Bond chokes Blofeld, who quickly dies from the virus.
—Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 28 Jan. 2026
Much of the work focused on pulling out English ivy, an invasive vine known for slowly killing trees, and clearing debris that chokes the forest floor.
—Brian Unger, CBS News, 19 Jan. 2026
Physical bullying happens when a child hits, kicks, trips, pushes, chokes or otherwise hurts another child.
—Dr. Mahvash Madni, Boston Herald, 4 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chokes
Verb
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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
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Mostly, though, Boland strangles batters with his suffocating and deadly-accurate line and length.—
Tim Spiers,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
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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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
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On the latter, Bollywood royalty Asha Bhosle, 92, sings in Hindi of setting sail to the other side, but Albarn smothers her beneath heraldic bursts of Disneyfied psych-pop.—
Jazz Monroe,
Pitchfork,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The neighborhood/area The hotel sits in the North Loop area of Minneapolis, blocks away from the iconic Hennepin Street Bridge with easy access to the riverfront parks along the Mississippi, with their great cycling and walking trails and varied perspectives on the city.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
31 Mar. 2026
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The orientation of entrances blocks front desk employees from seeing activity in the lobby area.—
Elliot Mann,
Twin Cities,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
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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
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Health care costs have risen dramatically faster than the spending cap set by TABOR, which in turn throttles other aspects of the state budget.—
Seth Klamann,
Denver Post,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Rethinking How Nasal Congestion Is Treated Nasal congestion develops because nasal passage tissues swell due to inflammation, which obstructs breathing and prevents mucus from exiting the sinus cavities.—
Matthew Kayser,
USA Today,
25 Mar. 2026
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Don't tail large vehicles closely - Trucks or buses can kick up a water spray that obstructs visibility.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
16 Mar. 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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The footage appears to be captured from a Wyze indoor security camera and caught the moment the cat moves close to the camera and its face fills the frame before the video feed is interrupted—giving the impression that the device has been intentionally disabled.—
Alice Gibbs,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Mar. 2026
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The scents of honey, lavender, patchouli and cedarwood waft through The Hive by Upcycled Candles, as soft alternative rock fills the air.—
Sarah Kyrcz,
Hartford Courant,
30 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Chokes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chokes. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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