1
as in choking
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
as in throttling
to keep (someone) from breathing by exerting pressure on the windpipe
the boy complained that he was being strangled by his tie
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in stifling
to refrain from openly showing or uttering
strangled a gasp of surprise upon hearing the news
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of strangling
He had been arrested for allegedly strangling his then-girlfriend, Johnny Faye Cartwright, in 2020.
—
Jennifer Maas, Variety, 10 June 2026
Gas prices have jumped by well over a dollar a gallon since the war began, strangling shipping traffic in the Strait of Hormuz — a critical pathway for much of the world's oil supply.
—Scott Horsley, NPR, 10 June 2026
Diggs was found not guilty in May of assaulting and strangling former employee Mila Adams.
—Anna Lazarus Caplan, PEOPLE, 10 June 2026
Prosecutors declined to file charges and Saenz was later granted a permanent restraining order against that ex-boyfriend, according to court records, after he was convicted of battering and strangling her.
—Shira Moolten, Sun Sentinel, 4 June 2026
The suspect allegedly put the victim in a headlock, strangling him, and preventing him from breathing.
—Colleen Cronin, Boston Herald, 1 June 2026
Now the road blocks strangling La Paz have entered their fourth week.
—ABC News, 27 May 2026
Prosecutors accuse Farwell of strangling Birchmore to death in February 2021 inside her Canton apartment.
—Matt Schooley, CBS News, 26 May 2026
After being arrested for a parole violation, Davis admitted to taking Klaas from her home, strangling her and hiding her remains.
—Alexiah Syrai Olsen, Sacbee.com, 19 May 2026
Jennifer Maas, Variety, 10 June 2026
Gas prices have jumped by well over a dollar a gallon since the war began, strangling shipping traffic in the Strait of Hormuz — a critical pathway for much of the world's oil supply.
—Scott Horsley, NPR, 10 June 2026
Diggs was found not guilty in May of assaulting and strangling former employee Mila Adams.
—Anna Lazarus Caplan, PEOPLE, 10 June 2026
Prosecutors declined to file charges and Saenz was later granted a permanent restraining order against that ex-boyfriend, according to court records, after he was convicted of battering and strangling her.
—Shira Moolten, Sun Sentinel, 4 June 2026
The suspect allegedly put the victim in a headlock, strangling him, and preventing him from breathing.
—Colleen Cronin, Boston Herald, 1 June 2026
Now the road blocks strangling La Paz have entered their fourth week.
—ABC News, 27 May 2026
Prosecutors accuse Farwell of strangling Birchmore to death in February 2021 inside her Canton apartment.
—Matt Schooley, CBS News, 26 May 2026
After being arrested for a parole violation, Davis admitted to taking Klaas from her home, strangling her and hiding her remains.
—Alexiah Syrai Olsen, Sacbee.com, 19 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for strangling
Verb
-
He was also cuffed inside his Bronx home in 2024 after punching a family member in the face and choking them.—
Roni Jacobson,
New York Daily News,
16 June 2026
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Those sharp fragments can cause choking, become lodged in the digestive tract, or even puncture the stomach or intestines.—
Kait Hanson,
Southern Living,
15 June 2026
Verb
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On the flip side, boosting Fox content while stifling everything else could be bad for overall engagement in the long run.—
Brian Welk,
IndieWire,
16 June 2026
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The favourites for the tournament include Spain, France, Argentina and, yes, England; but much will depend on how well squads adapt to the stifling heat, games at high altitude, and having to play across four different time zones.—
The Week UK,
TheWeek,
13 June 2026
Verb
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The 15-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene, and a death investigation was launched as is standard procedure with drowning incidents, the sheriff’s office said.—
Sam Gillette,
PEOPLE,
17 June 2026
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On May 18, 2025, Kiser's 3-year-old son Trigg died after a drowning accident at their home in Chandler, Arizona.—
Melina Khan,
USA Today,
17 June 2026
Verb
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But the country’s key tool for suppressing the pest — a facility that breeds sterile flies to halt reproduction of the parasite — isn’t slated to begin operating until November 2027.—
Ilena Peng,
Fortune,
13 June 2026
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The health care provider would then diagnose a player with Parkinson’s and, usually, issue a prescription for levodopa, a medicine that treats Parkinson’s by masking or suppressing symptoms.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
10 June 2026
Verb
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The Hurricanes held Vegas to five total goals in Games 4 and 5 and used a suffocating defense in a 3-0 shutout in Sunday night’s clinching Game 6 to win their first championship in 20 years.—
Mark Anderson,
Los Angeles Times,
15 June 2026
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Let food breathe in the fridge instead of suffocating it in cling wrap.—
Lanee Lee,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2026
Verb
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Brandsema explained that humans are born with one pool of motor neurons for life, and SMA slowly robs individuals of their motor neurons over time, leaving them with difficulty walking or running, holding up their heads, or even swallowing food and liquid safely.—
Ciara McCarthy
June 15,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
15 June 2026
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Lacking vegetation to hold the sand in place, the wind pushes it over the top, swallowing trees and anything else in its path.—
Doug Ross,
Chicago Tribune,
15 June 2026
Verb
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The Boston Bruins would like to incorporate the Hurricanes’ smothering defense and relentless attack.—
Fluto Shinzawa,
New York Times,
16 June 2026
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Natural methods like smothering with a tarp, flame weeding, or pulling by hand can effectively eliminate white clover.—
SJ McShane,
Martha Stewart,
10 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Strangling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/strangling. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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