strangle

verb

stran·​gle ˈstraŋ-gəl How to pronounce strangle (audio)
strangled; strangling ˈstraŋ-g(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce strangle (audio)
Synonyms of stranglenext

transitive verb

1
a
: to choke to death by compressing the throat with something (such as a hand or rope) : throttle
b
: to obstruct seriously or fatally the normal breathing of
c
: stifle
2
: to suppress or hinder the rise, expression, or growth of
repression strangles free speech

intransitive verb

1
: to become strangled
2
: to die from or as if from interference with breathing
strangler
ˈstraŋ-g(ə-)lər How to pronounce strangle (audio)
noun

Synonyms

See all Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus 

Examples of strangle in a Sentence

The weeds are strangling the plant. The company is trying to strangle the smaller competition.
Recent Examples on the Web The victim had visible external injuries to her forehead and upper lip and claimed a man had punched her in the head, strangled her with two hands around her neck, and pushed a pillow on the back of her head as she was face down on the mattress. —Anne Gelhaus, The Mercury News, 9 Apr. 2024 In 2017, Sergey Rudenko was sentenced to 10 years in prison for strangling his girlfriend to death with a belt. —Milana Mazaeva, New York Times, 6 Apr. 2024 Rod was arrested in 2022 for unrelated charges of domestic battery by strangulation after allegedly strangling his ex-girlfriend. —Thania Garcia, Variety, 3 Apr. 2024 From early on, the Coastal Commission has been the bane of many developers and some Republicans who have contended the panel and its bureaucrats have strangled reasonable coastal development. —Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Mar. 2024 Evidence showed she had been strangled, prosecutors said. —Phil Helsel, NBC News, 15 Mar. 2024 The principal at the girl’s middle school received multiple anonymous calls saying the girl had strangled cats and harmed herself, according to a police report obtained by The Post. —Chris Dehghanpoor, Washington Post, 13 Mar. 2024 Accused of stabbing, strangling, setting afire and drowning a woman who more than a decade ago spurned his declarations of love, Holton’s first trial in 2015 ended short of a verdict after jurors learned he was wanted by police for a separate crime. —Charles Rabin, Miami Herald, 1 Apr. 2024 Following his Idaho conviction, Creech was found guilty in the June 1974 strangling death of V. Grant Robinson, 50, in Sacramento, California, and August 1974 shooting death of William J. Dean, 22, in Portland, Oregon. —Kevin Fixler, Idaho Statesman, 26 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'strangle.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French estrangler, from Latin strangulare, from Greek strangalan, from strangalē halter — more at strain

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of strangle was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near strangle

Strangite

strangle

stranglehold

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Strangle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/strangle. Accessed 20 Apr. 2024.

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Kids Definition

strangle

verb
stran·​gle ˈstraŋ-gəl How to pronounce strangle (audio)
strangled; strangling -g(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce strangle (audio)
1
: to choke to death by squeezing the throat
2
: to cause (someone or something) to choke or suffocate
3
: to suppress or hinder the rise, growth, or expression of
these rules are strangling my creativity
4
: to become strangled
5
: to die by or as if by interference with breathing
strangler
-g(ə-)lər How to pronounce strangle (audio)
noun

Medical Definition

strangle

verb
stran·​gle ˈstraŋ-gəl How to pronounce strangle (audio)
strangled; strangling -g(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce strangle (audio)

transitive verb

1
: to choke to death by compressing the throat with something (as a hand or rope)
2
: to obstruct seriously or fatally the normal breathing of
the bone wedged in his throat and strangled him

intransitive verb

1
: to become strangled : undergo a severe interference with breathing
2
: to die from interference with breathing

More from Merriam-Webster on strangle

Nglish: Translation of strangle for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of strangle for Arabic Speakers

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