Synonyms

choking

American

[choh-king] / ˈtʃoʊ kɪŋ /

adjective

(of the voice) husky and strained, especially because of emotion.
causing the feeling of being choked.

a choking cloud of smoke.

Other Word Forms

chokingly adverb

Etymology

Origin of choking

choke + -ing ²

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.

McPaul had been a resident at the care home since 2009 and suffered from osteoarthritis and chronic oedema, while having a history of choking on his food.

From BBC • Mar. 25, 2026

The wider impact of the choking of the Strait of Hormuz was highlighted by a warning from a top World Trade Organization official in an interview with AFP.

From Barron's • Mar. 25, 2026

“My dad was a very big supporter of my music. ... I remember the last show where he saw me … I’m gonna choke up,” she says, choking up slightly.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 19, 2026

Tehran was shrouded in thick, choking smoke from burning fuel depots as Mojtaba Khamenei took up his role as Iran’s new supreme leader over the weekend.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 9, 2026

I sat down, buried my face in my arms, and made a lot of choking, sobbing sounds like I was crying.

From "Summer of the Monkeys" by Wilson Rawls

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