Carol couldn't choke back her tears.
Source: tatoeba (63156)
Choke
/t͡ʃəʊk/
Synonyms for "choke" (318 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (64)
acceleratorarrestasphyxiaasphyxiateasphyxiationautoautomobilebakebangbarbarricadebattenbatten downbe in heatbe killedbindblazeblockblock upblockade
Verb(10 words)
asphyxiateasphyxiatedasphyxiatesasphyxiatingback upbuy the farmcash in one's chipschoke offclogclog up
Noun(7 words)
Strong matches (95)
Related words (159)
megadeathmufflemufflermuzzleneckwearobstipateobstructobviateoccludeodoutoverburdenoverchargeoverfeedoverfilloverladeoverloadoverstuffoverweightpack
Show 105 more words
padlockpantparchpartspileplugplug upplumbprohibitput downput output to silencequashquellquenchquietquietenradiate heatrepressrestrainroastsatiatesaturatescaldscarfscorchsealseal offseal upsecureseetheserum deathshimmer with heatshushshutshut downshut down onshut offshut outshut the doorshut tightshut upsilencesimmerslackslamsmoldersmothersmotherationsmotheringsnapsnuffsnuff outsoaksoft pedalsoft-pedalsparkspilesquashsqueezesqueeze shutsquelchstamp outstanchstand in the waystarvationstarvestaysteamstenchstewstiflestiflingstillstopstop the breathstop upstopperstopplestranglestranglingstrangulatestrangulationstrike dumbstuffstuff upsuffocatesuffocationsuperchargesupersaturatesuppresssurchargesurfeitsweatswelterthrottlethrottlingtietoasttrample outtrample underfootviolent deathwatery gravezip upzipper
Noun(14 words)
misperformmuzzle constrictionobstructobstructionocclusionpinch pointrestrictrestrictorstammerstrangleholdsstranglesstutterthrottlethrottles
Verb(18 words)
Adjective(2 words)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: accelerator, arrest, asphyxia, asphyxiate, asphyxiate.
- Sentence evidence is available for choke, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from derived_reverse, moby, wordnet, opengloss, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "choke".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "choke"
Keep "choke" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "choke" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "choke", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "choke" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
43 entriesShowing 16 of 43 words.
More specific
15 entriesairway obstructionbronchial obstructioncarburetor chokedata bottleneckfull chokeimproved cylinderlaryngeal obstructionmisplaymissed shotmodified chokeprocess bottleneckstammeringstutteringsystem bottleneckthrottle valve
Collocations
7 entriescarburetor chokechoke holdchoke pointchoke valveengine chokefirearm chokefull choke
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
4 entriessimilar
10 entriesSample sentences
48 total sentences available.
You have to pace yourself or you'll choke halfway through.
Source: tatoeba (266993)
Many old people choke to death while eating mochi.
Source: tatoeba (393894)
I'll choke the life out of him.
Source: tatoeba (1224457)
Showing 4 of 48 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "choke"?
Closest matches include accelerator, arrest, asphyxia, asphyxiate, asphyxiate.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "choke"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.