1
2
3
as in to suffocate
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 to block
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of choke
Check your cookie stash for Chips Ahoy products that could contain a choking hazard.
—
Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 5 Feb. 2026
The child, who had been choking on mucus, was taken to Jacobi Hospital as a precaution and is doing well, police said.
—Stephen Sorace, FOXNews.com, 1 Feb. 2026
Confirm the safety key, throttle, and choke are in the correct positions before starting.
—David Beaulieu, The Spruce, 1 Feb. 2026
Braddy’s criminal history included convictions for robbery, kidnapping and attempting to kill a corrections officer by choking him.
—Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for choke
Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 5 Feb. 2026
The child, who had been choking on mucus, was taken to Jacobi Hospital as a precaution and is doing well, police said.
—Stephen Sorace, FOXNews.com, 1 Feb. 2026
Confirm the safety key, throttle, and choke are in the correct positions before starting.
—David Beaulieu, The Spruce, 1 Feb. 2026
Braddy’s criminal history included convictions for robbery, kidnapping and attempting to kill a corrections officer by choking him.
—Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for choke
Recent Examples of Synonyms for choke
Verb
-
Reports later revealed that the Turpin parents restricted the food their children could eat, left several of them in a home alone to fend for themselves, and imprisoned, beat, and strangled their kids.—
Stephanie Kaloi,
PEOPLE,
4 Feb. 2026
-
According to the indictment, McCray is accused of strangling the victim.—
Angie DiMichele,
Sun Sentinel,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
People can experience stomach cramping, nausea, diarrhea or vomiting within 24 hours after ingesting a toxic mushroom and the situation can quickly deteriorate after that, experts say.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
8 Feb. 2026
-
People can have stomach cramping, nausea, diarrhea or vomiting within 24 hours after ingesting a toxic mushroom and the situation can quickly deteriorate after that, experts say.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The son then held his hands for another 20 seconds before eventually suffocating the victim.—
Muri Assunção,
New York Daily News,
10 Feb. 2026
-
And on Sunday before 70,823 at Levi’s Stadium, the unit showed the world there is room for more than one hard-hitting, suffocating defense in Seahawks history.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
But Philips got her pads down to block a low shot to the disappointment of the home audience.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Millions of dollars in federal funds were set to flow once again to the Hudson River Tunnel Thursday night, after a federal court order blocking the bucks expired.—
Evan Simko-Bednarski,
New York Daily News,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
This effort to throttle transparency of a project that is already the subject of international derision is incomprehensible as well as offensive to the public’s right to know.—
Jon Coupal,
Oc Register,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Overall, Newsom has tended to favor attempts to protect children and other vulnerable groups from AI, while opposing measures that could throttle the industry’s growth.—
Dan Walters,
Mercury News,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The person appears to first try obstructing the lens with their gloved hand.—
Dakin Andone,
CNN Money,
11 Feb. 2026
-
This, along with the 911 calls, led to his arrest for allegedly obstructing police.—
Christina Dugan Ramirez,
FOXNews.com,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Less than a minute later, Beauvillier jammed the puck past Islanders goalie David Rittich to the short side.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
3 Feb. 2026
-
The kids are sure to love the life-size puppets and jamming tunes.—
Caroline Ritzie,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
1 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Choke.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/choke. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
