throttle

verb

ˈthrä-tᵊl How to pronounce throttle (audio)
Definition of throttlenext
as in to choke
to keep (someone) from breathing by exerting pressure on the windpipe I was so angry at what he was saying that I could have throttled him!

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 throttle Enforcing rigid standards prematurely—as early Space Development Agency (SDA) mandates demonstrated—can freeze sub-optimal designs and throttle rapid tech iteration. — Rohit Jha, Forbes.com, 1 Oct. 2026 San Diego provided more than enough support for King, who struck out eight over seven stellar innings while thoroughly throttling the majors' highest-scoring team. — ABC News, 30 Sep. 2026 Don’t throttle the goose who lays the golden eggs, don’t blast from the skies the albatross who guarantees fair winds. — Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2026 These are key fuel nodes for the Red Sea, made all the more vital as Iran throttles traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. — Rafi Schwartz, TheWeek, 21 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for throttle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for throttle
  1. choke
  2. strangle
Verb
  • Bill Snyder’s second-greatest football achievement as Kansas State’s legendary head coach, after magically transforming the nation’s most moribund program into a national contender, was to choke the life from his school’s biggest rivalry game.
    — Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Among those arrested were individuals accused of choking their partners and assaulting their children, the sheriff’s office said.
    — Tanya Babbar, Houston Chronicle, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of choke
Verb
  • In a counter claim, Xuan accused Diaz of being drunk at work and trying to strangle him.
    — James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026
  • The latest slate of attacks is strangling a recovery in movement throughout the strait that had been building for weeks.
    — Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of strangle

Phrases Containing throttle

Browse Nearby Words

throning
throttle
throttled
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Throttle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/throttle. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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