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
Not cut the taxes strangling working families and British business.
—
Alastair Grant,
Los Angeles Times,
29 June 2026
Instead of having a thousand flowers bloom, a thousand weeds end up strangling them.
—
Jeffrey Sonnenfeld,
Time,
28 June 2026
Sochor was convicted of the rape and strangling of 18-year-old Patricia Gifford after meeting her at a New Year's celebration in 1981.
—
Amanda Lee Myers,
USA Today,
24 June 2026
Johnson, 42, was accused of raping and strangling an 18-year-old woman during an attack that lasted six hours in 2024.
—
Cbs Baltimore Staff,
CBS News,
22 June 2026
The case was resurrected in 2012, however, when Hernandez’s brother-in-law told authorities that Hernandez, now 64, had confessed to strangling a boy many years before.
—
Kc Baker,
PEOPLE,
22 June 2026
Heuermann, 62, admitted in April to strangling eight women and leaving their remains in remote areas of Long Island between 1993 and 2010, which have been dubbed the Gilgo Beach killings.
—
Rena Rowe,
The Washington Examiner,
17 June 2026
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
Alastair Grant,
Los Angeles Times,
29 June 2026
Instead of having a thousand flowers bloom, a thousand weeds end up strangling them.
—
Jeffrey Sonnenfeld,
Time,
28 June 2026
Sochor was convicted of the rape and strangling of 18-year-old Patricia Gifford after meeting her at a New Year's celebration in 1981.
—
Amanda Lee Myers,
USA Today,
24 June 2026
Johnson, 42, was accused of raping and strangling an 18-year-old woman during an attack that lasted six hours in 2024.
—
Cbs Baltimore Staff,
CBS News,
22 June 2026
The case was resurrected in 2012, however, when Hernandez’s brother-in-law told authorities that Hernandez, now 64, had confessed to strangling a boy many years before.
—
Kc Baker,
PEOPLE,
22 June 2026
Heuermann, 62, admitted in April to strangling eight women and leaving their remains in remote areas of Long Island between 1993 and 2010, which have been dubbed the Gilgo Beach killings.
—
Rena Rowe,
The Washington Examiner,
17 June 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for strangling
Verb
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This practice carries risks, such as choking and aspiration, or food entering the airway.
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Eddie Jenkins had been arrested for domestic battery for allegedly choking Kiara Jenkins in 2009, prosecutors said.
Verb
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The 34 measures include cuts to income tax for low- and middle income families, an overhaul of the creaking pension system, tougher rules for employees' sick leave and a reduction of the country's stifling bureaucracy.
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Hundreds of millions of people will be exposed to dangerous, stifling heat over the extended July 4 weekend, with officials warning people to limit time outdoors and stay hydrated.
Verb
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But water also carries the potential for danger, and parents who have lost a child to drowning are begging families to use caution.
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Florida, which has one of the highest childhood drowning rates in the nation, expanded a voucher program this month that puts children ages 1-7 who have autism at the front of the line for subsidized swim lessons.
Verb
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Ukrainian forces can now detect and strike Russian troops day and night, often suppressing positions before infantry move in.
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The migrating dust can move from the African desert more than 5,000 miles westward over the Atlantic and is known for suppressing rainfall and conditions that support hurricanes.
Verb
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Huge parts Europe have been suffocating under a stubborn heat dome parked over the continent, trapping hot air and leading to extreme and dangerous heat and humidity.
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The conception of the role, marked by a dim view of stardom’s suffocating alienation, was something Jolie clearly understood.
Verb
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Esophagus During a contest, swallowing occurs almost continuously as large amounts of food and water repeatedly stretch the esophagus.
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Three of the reports stemmed from consumers swallowing the metal pieces and seeking medical treatment to remove them from their digestive tract or throat, the agency said.
Verb
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Like English ivy, kudzu spreads very aggressively, smothering out native species and potentially becoming a real problem for your garden.
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The Boston Bruins would like to incorporate the Hurricanes’ smothering defense and relentless attack.
Cite this Entry
“Strangling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/strangling. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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