strangle

/ˈstræŋɡəl/
verb
  1. To kill someone by squeezing their throat, preventing them from breathing.
    • It is a horrible way to die — to be strangled slowly.
    • In the movie, the killer would strangle his victims from behind.
    • The villain tried to strangle the hero with a rope.
  2. To prevent something from growing, developing, or succeeding; to suppress.
    • The company's debt is strangling its ability to invest in new projects.
    • Too many rules can strangle creativity in the classroom.
    • High taxes can strangle small businesses.
  3. To feel or cause a feeling of tightness in the throat, as from strong emotion.
    • The emotion was so strong it nearly strangled him.
    • Anger seemed to strangle her words before she could speak.
    • He felt a sob strangle his voice as he spoke about his loss.
Antonyms
What does "strangle" mean? | whatsthatwordmean | whatsthatwordmean