strangle

[ strang-guhl ]

/ ˈstræŋ gəl /

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verb (used with object), stran·gled, stran·gling.

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.

to prevent the continuance, growth, rise, or action of; suppress: Censorship strangles a free press.

verb (used without object), stran·gled, stran·gling.

to be choked, stifled, or suffocated.

Nearby words

strangeness, stranger, stranger rape, stranger's gallery, stranger, the, strangle, stranglehold, strangler, strangles, strangulate, strangulated hernia

Origin of strangle

1250–1300; Middle English strangelen < Old French estrangler < Latin strangulāre < Greek strangalân, derivative of strangálē halter, akin to strangós twisted

SYNONYMS FOR strangle

1 garrote, throttle, choke.

2 smother.

3 check, repress, gag, muzzle.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR strangle ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

stran·gler, nounstran·gling·ly, adverbun·stran·gled, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for strangle

As you can see on your screens, this young soldier is trying to strangle me with the barrel of his carbine.
This 1979 Novel Predicted Putin’s Invasion Of Crimea|Michael Weiss|May 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
If he refuses to strangle his own baby in the crib, Republicans are happy to retaliate.
The GOP Is Threatening Murder-Suicide With New Shutdown Warnings|Kirsten Powers|September 19, 2013|DAILY BEAST
They drove to his home in South Los Angeles and had sex but shortly thereafter, he attempted to strangle her with a shoelace.
Los Angeles Police Pin Old Murders of Three Women on Dead Serial Killer|Christine Pelisek|August 3, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Bulger attempted to strangle McIntyre with a rope and, when that failed, he shot McIntyre in the head multiple times.
Whitey Bulger's Victim Speaks Out Against FBI|Rikki Klieman|November 18, 2011|DAILY BEAST

"Mark tried to strangle me last night," my friend blurted out.
Husbands Who Bring the War Home|Stacy Bannerman|September 25, 2010|DAILY BEAST
I felt inclined to strangle you with my own hands, you fool!
The Fourth Estate, vol. 2|Armando Palacio Valds
It was tabu to strangle his widow, though the widows of no other chief were exempt from paying that last honour to the dead.
The Fijians|Basil Thomson
Hamilcar looked at Giddenem; he felt inclined to strangle him.
Salammbo|Gustave Flaubert
My father sought to strangle me because he believed he would appear in my blood.
The Blue Wall|Richard Washburn Child
After his death in 604 his second son forced the heir to the throne to strangle himself, and then seized the throne.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 6, Slice 2|Various

British Dictionary definitions for strangle

strangle

/ (ˈstræŋɡəl) /

verb

(tr) to kill by compressing the windpipe; throttle

(tr) to prevent or inhibit the growth or development ofto strangle originality

(tr) to suppress (an utterance) by or as if by swallowing suddenlyto strangle a cry

Word Origin for strangle

C13: via Old French, ultimately from Greek strangalē a halter

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

strangle

verb (used with object), stran·gled, stran·gling.

verb (used without object), stran·gled, stran·gling.

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RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of strangle

SYNONYMS FOR strangle

Related forms

Examples from the Web for strangle

British Dictionary definitions for strangle

strangle

verb

Word Origin for strangle

Medicine definitions for strangle

strangle

v.