strangled 1 of 2

adjective

as in choked

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strangled

2 of 2

verb

past tense of strangle
1
as in drowned
to be or cause to be killed by lack of breathable air the gull got tangled in a piece of fishing line on the beach and was strangled

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2
as in throttled
to keep (someone) from breathing by exerting pressure on the windpipe the boy complained that he was being strangled by his tie

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3
as in stifled
to refrain from openly showing or uttering strangled a gasp of surprise upon hearing the news

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of strangled
Verb
In the first assault, Escudero locked a 16-year-old coworker in his car, then strangled, struck and raped her, according to the release. — Harllie Stevenson, Idaho Statesman, 25 Sep. 2026 While on the phone with 911, Patrick entered the home and found that Lindsay had strangled the children. — Liam Quinn, PEOPLE, 20 Sep. 2026 Clancy's defense does not dispute that the 36-year-old former delivery room nurse strangled her three children with exercise bands in January 2023. — Michael Sinkewicz, FOXNews.com, 18 Sep. 2026 His arrest report also states that Hunter strangled the woman with his knee while pinning her to the floor. — David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 16 Sep. 2026 The board denied granting clemency to Stacey Humphreys, who was sentenced to death in 2007 for the 2003 killings of Cyndi Williams and Lori Brown, who were strangled and then shot to death in the model home of a Powder Springs subdivision. — Caleb Groves, AJC.com, 15 Sep. 2026 Matthew appeared to have been stabbed, strangled and had signs of trauma to her head. — Fedor Zarkhin, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 2026 Neither side disputed that Clancy strangled 5-year-old Cora, 3-year-old Dawson and 8-month-old Callan Clancy in the family's home in 2023 before trying to end her own life. — ABC News, 10 Sep. 2026 They were found dead in the family basement, having been gruesomely strangled one by one with exercise bands. — Richard E. Vatz, Baltimore Sun, 6 Sep. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for strangled
  1. choked
  2. drowned
  3. stifled
  4. strained
  5. suffocated
  6. suppressed
  7. cracked
  8. smothered
Adjective
  • The western island of South Sumatra also battled fires, with more than 1,700 hot spots detected on Sunday, causing a choked haze cloud and reducing visibility to only 10 meters (33 feet) in some areas, the ministry said.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 23 Aug. 2026
  • However, that deal fell apart after the US unleashed a fresh wave of attacks on Iran in mid-July, following Iranian strikes on vessels in the choked Strait of Hormuz.
    — Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 24 July 2026
Definition of choked
Verb
  • In all, the Dodgers drowned out that horrible tomahawk chop with some mighty hacks of their own, winning 3-1 while finally displaying some of the desperation that had been missing.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026
  • According to the civil action, E’Mari disappeared below the water surface within a crowd and drowned in shallow water.
    — Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of drowned
Verb
  • While Odebunmi was producing for Cleveland, the Cavaliers largely stifled Birmingham’s top offensive threat, wide receiver Paul Turner.
    — Joel Beers, Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 2026
  • The Falcons dominated the second half with their offense, and the defense stifled the Packers and quarterback Jordan Love.
    — Rod Beard, AJC.com, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of stifled
Adjective
  • Worries have been rising about the French government’s big debt and its strained budget.
    — Stan Choe, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Giancarlo Stanton, who hasn’t played since April 24 because of strained calf muscles in both legs, remained on the 26-man roster for the best-of-five series starting Saturday.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of strained
Verb
  • Holding a yellow Sedano’s bag, Rifkin told the jury Sierra placed a plastic bag just like it over Machado’s head and suffocated her.
    — Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 29 Sep. 2026
  • There, on the Gila National Forest, massive wildfires have suffocated mountain streams with ash, requiring major restoration projects.
    — Brandon Loomis, AZCentral.com, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of suffocated
Verb
  • Some of the footage was played during a dayslong suppression hearing last December, when the defense argued evidence recovered during the arrest should be suppressed because Mangione’s backpack was improperly searched.
    — Nicki Brown, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2026
  • The video included much of what was played during a three-week evidentiary hearing when defense attorneys argued the evidence should be suppressed.
    — Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of suppressed
Adjective
  • Inspect the weatherstripping for cracked, compressed or missing foam, vinyl or rubber seals.
    — Alora Bopray, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Use them to cover a cracked deck, upgrade a front porch, create a barefoot-friendly walkway around a hot tub or pool, or even define a dedicated grilling station that’s easy to sweep clean.
    — Better Homes & Gardens, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 July 2026
Definition of cracked
Verb
  • The customary counter and high chairs that once held pecan waffles and smothered hash browns have been replaced with a long bodega-style service counter.
    — Sheeka Sanahori, Bon Appetit Magazine, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Noah Kim threw two touchdown passes and the Eastern Michigan defense smothered Lindenwood to help post a 29-3 win on Saturday.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 26 Sep. 2026
Definition of smothered

Browse Nearby Words

strangle
strangled
stranglehold
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Cite this Entry

“Strangled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/strangled. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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