WordLens

strangle

1 of 1verb
/ˈstræn.gəl/
Forms:strangles,strangling,strangled,strangled
1

to experience difficulty breathing or to be unable to breathe due to obstruction or restriction

  • He started to strangle from the smoke in the room, struggling to catch his breath.
  • She felt like she was starting to strangle as the tight scarf pressed against her neck.
  • The intense pressure made him feel like he was going to strangle from lack of air.
  • In the thick fog, he felt himself begin to strangle, unable to breathe properly.
  • The heat was so stifling that it made everyone feel like they were starting to strangle.
Synonyms:
chokegagsuffocate
2

to kill by choking the throat and blocking the air supply

transitive
  • The villain attempted to strangle the hero with a rope.
  • In self-defense, she managed to strangle the attacker and escape.
  • The snake constricted its prey, attempting to strangle it before swallowing.
  • The cat playfully pretended to strangle the toy mouse in its paws.
Synonyms:
throttlestrangulate
3

to hold back or stop an impulse, action, or sound from being expressed or carried out

transitive
  • He had to strangle his anger before speaking to his boss.
  • He strangles the urge to speak out, afraid of the consequences.
  • She struggled to strangle her tears during the emotional speech.
  • He quickly strangled the impulse to argue, knowing it wouldn't help.
  • She had to strangle the temptation to check her phone during class.
Synonyms:
repressstiflemufflesmother
4

to slow down, restrict, or block the progress or activity of something

transitive
  • The lack of funding began to strangle the growth of the small business.
  • Overregulation can strangle innovation and prevent new ideas from emerging.
  • His constant criticism strangles the team’s creativity and motivation.
  • Political instability can strangle the development of an entire country.
  • The high taxes are starting to strangle the local economy.
Synonyms:
hamperhaltercramp
5

to die because something is blocking or interfering with the ability to breathe

  • She struggled to breathe before ultimately strangling from the tight grip.
  • The baby tragically strangled in her sleep after the blanket was too tightly wrapped around her neck.
  • The animal strangled on the plastic bag.
  • The victim strangled and died from lack of oxygen.