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Glite Dictionary
😮‍💨 To stop breathing 😢 To hold in feelings 😬 To fail nervously 🚗 To block air 🛠️ Air control valve 🔌 A filter coil
to choke

to choke

77 4.9
To find it hard to speak because you feel strong emotion
  • verb
  • /tʃoʊk/
: contenerse
  • When a man or a woman is too independent in a relationship, they will choke the life out of that relationship.
  • choked back tears
  • a choked voice

But once narcissists start getting into your life, they are like invasive weeds that choke out the good stuff in your garden.

Examples

  • She couldn't express her feelings about the situation and felt like she was going to choke on her frustration.

  • You are allowing the world to steal your attention, to choke your brain power with things that really don't matter.

  • But once narcissists start getting into your life, they are like invasive weeds that choke out the good stuff in your garden.

    DoctorRamani

  • People's talents and worldviews can threaten the insecure and choke off honest discussion.

    Academic text (2009)

  • Gripping the bar in her mittens, she choked back a sob of fear.

    Fiction book (1990)

  • As the pressure mounted, he began to choke back his tears during the emotional speech.

  • In the middle of the presentation, he suddenly choked on his words and struggled to continue.

Synonyms

to hold back
vsto choke
86 4.2

Keep yourself from showing feelings or telling others

is focused more on internal feelings and creative expression
to stifle
vsto choke
71 5.3

To hold back a feeling or reaction so it does not show

focuses more on inner restraint of feelings and expression
to hold in
vsto choke
65 4.5

To stop yourself from showing strong feelings

covers suppression of broader creative or expressive acts too
to suppress
vsto choke
48 5.8

To hold back feelings or reactions

may not imply deliberate action, covering broader restraint
to bottle up
vsto choke
41 5.6

To keep strong feelings inside instead of telling others

can be less deliberate and include stifling creativity or expression
to suffocate
vsto choke
37 5.7

To feel limited and unable to grow or express yourself

deals with active internal restraint of feelings or expression
to strangle
vsto choke
28 6.7

To limit growth or activity so it cannot continue

is more about holding back emotions or creativity rather than stopping growth
to swallow
vsto choke
  • Informal
21 7.0

To take back words you said

is broader and also covers creative or expressive suppression
to choke off
vsto choke
8 6.4

To stop a supply by blocking its source or flow

is more about restraining inner feelings or creative expression
to choke back
vsto choke
5 7.0

Stop yourself from showing a feeling when you want to cry

does the same without focusing on effort or struggle
to quench
vsto choke
3 6.1

To stop a feeling or action completely

often means restraint rather than total destruction of feeling
to choke down
vsto choke
2 7.7

To stop yourself from showing strong feelings like sadness or anger

covers emotions and also broader creativity or expressive acts

Antonyms

to release
∞ 1.8

To let someone or something go free from being held

to express
∞ 2.3

To show ideas and feelings by words or actions

Idioms

to choke a horse
  • Informal
2 9.8

A very large amount of food that is more than one person can eat

to choke the chicken
  • Offensive
1 9.9

To touch a man's penis to make him sexually excited

to choke on one's words
7.8

To stop speaking because you feel nervous, embarrassed, or upset

Phrasal Verbs

to choke on
91 3.4

To have trouble breathing because food gets stuck in the throat

to choke up
31 4.6

To feel so upset that you cannot speak

to choke out
12 7.4

Say something with great difficulty because you feel upset or nervous

to choke off
8 6.4

To stop a supply by blocking its source or flow

to choke back
5 7.0

Stop yourself from showing a feeling when you want to cry

to choke down
2 7.7

To stop yourself from showing strong feelings like sadness or anger

to choke up
2 5.8

To block a pipe or drain so water cannot pass through

to choke under pressure
  • Informal
2 7.0

Perform badly because of nervousness in an important situation

to choke out a laugh
1 7.0

To manage a short laugh when you feel surprised or shocked

to choke under pressure
  • Specialized
5.4

Stop working or work badly when there is too much demand

Compounds

choke hold
  • NSFW
6 7.5

A tight arm around someone's neck from behind to stop them moving or make them pass out

choke-full
1 7.0

Filled so tightly that there is no space left

choke coil
  • Specialized
1 7.7

A coil that lets direct current pass but reduces alternating current in a circuit

automatic choke
  • Archaic
6.8

A device in a car engine that automatically reduces air so the engine starts easily when cold

How Suppressed

to stifle
71 5.3
to suppress
48 5.8
to choke
77 4.9
to restrain
26 4.6
to hold back
86 4.2

Surface Forms

choke infinitive
choked past
choked past participle
choking present participle
chokes third person singular

Etymology

Choke for holding back feelings comes from the same physical idea of losing breath; when strong emotions 'choke' you they stop your voice and make it hard to speak.