Strangle (Verb)
Meaning 1
Prevent the progress or free movement of; "He was hampered in his efforts by the bad weather"; "the imperialist nation wanted to strangle the free trade between the two small countries".
Classification
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc..
Examples
- The strict regulations were designed to strangle the growth of small businesses in the city.
- The government's new tax laws seemed to strangle innovation by discouraging investors.
- Rigid censorship laws were used to strangle free speech and stifle dissenting voices.
- The established corporation attempted to strangle competition by buying out their rivals.
- The restrictive licensing agreements strangled the ability of startups to enter the market.
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Meaning 2
Kill by squeezing the throat of so as to cut off the air; "he tried to strangulate his opponent"; "A man in Boston has been strangling several dozen prostitutes".
Classification
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging.
Examples
- The man was arrested for attempting to strangle his girlfriend during a domestic dispute.
- The serial killer confessed to strangling multiple victims before dumping their bodies in the woods.
- The defendant in the murder trial claimed he did not strangle the victim, contrary to eyewitness testimony.
- The police launched an investigation into the allegations that the teenager had been trying to strangle his younger sibling.
- The medical examiner's report confirmed that the victim had been strangled to death.
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Meaning 3
Struggle for breath; have insufficient oxygen intake; "he swallowed a fishbone and gagged".
Classification
Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care.
Examples
- The tight collar began to strangle her as she tried to loosen the buttons on her shirt.
- The smoke-filled room started to strangle him, causing him to gasp for air desperately.
- In her panic, Emily's asthma began to strangle her, making her wheeze with each labored breath.
- The strong undertow threatened to strangle Sarah as she struggled to break free from its suffocating grip.
- When Jack inhaled the pepper, it began to strangle him, making him cough uncontrollably for relief.
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Meaning 4
Suppress in order to conceal or hide; "smother a yawn"; "muffle one's anger"; "strangle a laugh"; "repress a cry of fear".
Classification
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging.
Examples
- The politician tried to strangle her laughter during the opponent's speech, desperate to maintain her serious demeanor.
- He attempted to strangle the scream of frustration building up inside him as his car broke down on the highway.
- As she saw the surprise party, she struggled to strangle a grin to maintain the illusion of it being a normal day.
- The mourners were attempting to strangle their tears during the emotional eulogy at the funeral.
- The kids had to strangle their giggles as they watched their teacher unknowingly write on the blackboard with a dry marker.
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Meaning 5
Constrict (someone's) throat and keep from breathing.
Classification
Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care.
Examples
- The murderer tried to strangle the victim with a rope to end their life instantly.
- The attacker attempted to strangle her before she could call for help.
- In a fit of rage, he wrapped his hands around her neck and started to strangle her.
- The serial killer was known to strangle his victims before disposing of their bodies.
- He nearly strangled himself on the rope as he swung wildly trying to escape.
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Meaning 6
Die from strangulation.
Classification
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc..
Examples
- She was at risk of being strangled by the tight rope around her neck if she didn't think fast and come up with an escape plan.
- His weak respiratory system made him more likely to strangle on the thick piece of food stuck in his airway.
- The coroner determined the victim had strangled due to the ligature marks visible around her throat at the scene.
- Emergency responders worked quickly to remove the rope constricting his airway before he would strangle and succumb to asphyxia.
- In a desperate attempt to break free, she tried to find a way to loosen the grip of her attacker, who was starting to strangle her with his bare hands.