View synonyms for choke back

choke back

verb

Suppress, as in He choked back his tears . [Late 1800s]

Shiomura continued to speak even though she had to choke back tears at one point.

Anyone who saw Obama choke back tears when he first responded to the Newtown tragedy knew he was deeply affected.

At the end of his 15-minute address Sandusky began to choke back tears as he spoke of his wife and family.

I was moved by that voice fighting so hard to choke back tears.

As he talks he stops several times so he can choke back tears.

Fanny was determined to choke back that feeling of uneasiness which had worried her during the whole of that day.

"You were a fool," said David, trying to choke back his eagerness.

And he watched Jake choke back the furious retort that suddenly leapt to his lips.

Caspar muttered something inarticulate, then seemed to choke back further utterance, and kept silence for a minute.

"She didn't bear it at all, sir," answered the maid, catching her breath to choke back a sob.

April 19, 2024tortuous

[tawr-choo-uhs ]

Start each day with the Word of the Day in your inbox!

By clicking "Sign Up", you are accepting Dictionary.com Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policies.

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Browse