strangle
Americanverb (used with object)
-
strangles,
present (3rd person singular)
-
strangled,
past participle, past
-
strangling
present participle
-
to kill by squeezing the throat in order to compress the windpipe and prevent the intake of air, as with the hands or a tightly drawn cord.
-
to kill by stopping the breath in any manner; choke; stifle; suffocate.
- Synonyms:
- smother
-
to prevent the continuance, growth, rise, or action of; suppress.
Censorship strangles a free press.
verb (used without object)
-
strangles,
present (3rd person singular)
-
strangled,
past participle, past
-
strangling
present participle
verb
-
(tr) to kill by compressing the windpipe; throttle
-
(tr) to prevent or inhibit the growth or development of
to strangle originality
-
(tr) to suppress (an utterance) by or as if by swallowing suddenly
to strangle a cry
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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stranglesimple
-
stranglessimple
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have strangledperfect
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has strangledperfect
-
am stranglingprogressive
-
are stranglingprogressive
-
is stranglingprogressive
-
have been stranglingperfect progressive
-
has been stranglingperfect progressive
Past
-
strangledsimple
-
had strangledperfect
-
was stranglingprogressive
-
were stranglingprogressive
-
had been stranglingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of strangle
1250–1300; Middle English strangelen < Old French estrangler < Latin strangulāre < Greek strangalân, derivative of strangálē halter, akin to strangós twisted
Explanation
To strangle is to cut off someone's breathing by squeezing their throat. If your turtleneck sweater is too tight, you might feel like it's strangling you. To strangle is to squeeze shut, and it can also mean to gasp for air as if your throat were being squeezed. The word strangle comes from the Greek strangalan, "to choke or twist.” In addition to its throat-constricting meaning, strangle has also come to mean "hinder," like when your parents' strict curfew strangles your social life or when you try to strangle a sneeze in a quiet library.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
With the Iran war continuing to strangle Middle East oil supplies, public transit agencies looking to add passengers might expect high gas prices to incentivize people to ride the rails more than ever.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 23, 2026
The so-called strangle strategy entails buying a put option and call option that are below and above the market, respectively, and that share the same expiration date.
From Barron's ● Mar. 25, 2026
In fact, the straddle or strangle buy here is worth looking at.
From MarketWatch ● Feb. 12, 2026
The goal "is not to dominate China; nor is it to strangle or humiliate them", the document says.
From BBC ● Jan. 24, 2026
“I’ve seen something like it before, but I’ve never worn such a fancy, newfangled thing. I’m afraid it might strangle me.”
From "The Detective's Assistant" by Kate Hannigan
All items in the table should be checked just before the earnings are announced, for that would be the time to buy the straddles or strangles if they do satisfy the “needed” requirement.
From MarketWatch ● May 28, 2026
As the war in Iran strangles the flow of oil around the globe, California’s jet fuel reservoirs are running low.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 24, 2026
This blocking of competition drives up prices for merchants and consumers, harms security and strangles innovation.”
From Washington Times ● Jul. 21, 2023
He could have added: until, finally, it strangles us.
From Washington Post ● May 1, 2022
The anger strangles my words because who is he to judge her?
From "Wayward Creatures" by Dayna Lorentz
Growth was limited, however, as production in OPEC’s de facto leader, Saudi Arabia, was constrained by threats to its key export routes, while a U.S. naval blockade strangled Iranian shipments from the Persian Gulf.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 10, 2026
Sir James said: "Londoners need homes they can afford to buy or rent. Entrepreneurs need to be able to start and grow businesses without being strangled by cost and regulation."
From BBC ● Aug. 29, 2026
But they're still strangled by international sanctions linked to terrorism and human rights.
From BBC ● Aug. 14, 2026
The Academy Awards broadcast, which once routinely drew audiences of 40 million, saw its viewership plummet to 10.4 million in the pandemic strangled year of 2021.
From Barron's ● Mar. 18, 2026
When she spoke, her voice was not the strangled, too-perfect Yiddish, but her own: “I didn’t think you’d come.”
From "Night Owls" by A.R. Vishny
In parts of Africa, Central America, and India, drought is already strangling crop yields and threatening famine.
From Slate ● Sep. 28, 2026
“It’s strangling the city,” said Paul Rickard, CEO of property developer Pocket Living.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 20, 2026
But Xi must be concerned about the very real possibility of a global recession stemming from Iran’s continued strangling of shipping through the Strait.
From Salon ● May 14, 2026
South Africa hosts the first G20 summit on African soil this weekend, with a debt crisis strangling many developing countries, at the top of the pile of issues on the table.
From Barron's ● Nov. 19, 2025
Evan tensed up his fingers as if he were strangling an invisible ghost.
From "The Lemonade War" by Jacqueline Davies
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