choke (back)

verb

Definition of choke (back)next
as in to stifle
to refrain from openly showing or uttering choked back a sarcastic reply to an insulting question

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Examples Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for choke (back)
  1. stifle
  2. suppress
  3. swallow
  4. hold back
Verb
  • Bureaucracy has also stifled innovation even when its military utility is obvious.
    Mitch McConnell, Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2024
  • Leaders who avoid conflict breed mediocrity and stifle innovation and creativity.
    Expert Panel®, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024
Definition of stifle
Verb
  • Harry is doing his best to keep Dexter from killing people, though Dex acknowledges that slicing into cadavers and taking hunting trips aren’t really cutting it in terms of suppressing his urges.
    Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 13 Dec. 2024
  • His beautiful, distant mother, played by the French-Argentinean actress Bérénice Bejo, treats these outbursts as insurrections to be suppressed.
    Alexandra Schwartz, The New Yorker, 13 Dec. 2024
Definition of suppress
Verb
  • In a game where a D-man on the other side put up two, seeing the team’s two most skilled defencemen finish with zero shots each and losing their minutes at five-on-five is a tough pill to swallow.
    Omar White, The Athletic, 15 Dec. 2024
  • The Huskies were also swallowed up on the boards, getting out-rebounded 25-16 in the first half and allowing 11 second-chance points to the Irish.
    Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 13 Dec. 2024
Definition of swallow
Verb
  • In traditional teams, individuals often hold back critical insights for fear of overstepping boundaries or creating conflict.
    Keith Ferrazzi, Forbes, 15 Dec. 2024
  • Erin and Jack held back from sharing the news of their reunion at the dinner table and instead discussed the indictment for Badillo’s killer.
    Stephanie Wenger, People.com, 14 Dec. 2024
Definition of hold back
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.

Thesaurus Entries Near choke (back)

choke

choke (back)

choked

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Cite this Entry

“Choke (back).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/choke%20%28back%29. Accessed 23 Dec. 2024.

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