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verb B2 Upper-Intermediate

strangle

STRANG-guhl

Strangle (verb) means to kill or injure someone by squeezing their throat and cutting off their air. Example: “The victim was strangled with a piece of cord.”

verb
1
To kill or injure someone by squeezing their throat and cutting off their air.
"The victim was strangled with a piece of cord."
2
To suppress or stifle something severely.
"Excessive red tape can strangle small business growth."

How to use strangle

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo choke someone to death by the throat, or figuratively to crush or suppress something.

Common pairings
strangle growth strangle a competitor attempt to strangle

Word forms

strangled past tense, strangles plural, strangles singular

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The victim was _____ with a piece of cord.

Etymology

From Old French "estrangler," ultimately from Ancient Greek "strangaloomai" ("to be strangled"), related to "strangale" ("a halter").

Origin: Ancient Greek

Related words

Rhymes for strangle

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Frequently asked questions

What does “strangle” mean?

The word “strangle” means to kill or injure someone by squeezing their throat and cutting off their air. In plain terms, to choke someone to death by the throat, or figuratively to crush or suppress something.

How do you pronounce “strangle”?

“Strangle” is pronounced STRANG-guhl (/ˈstɹeɪ̯ŋɡəl/ in IPA).

How do you use “strangle” in a sentence?

Here is “strangle” used in a sentence: “The victim was strangled with a piece of cord.”

What part of speech is “strangle”?

“Strangle” is a verb.

Where does the word “strangle” come from?

The word “strangle” comes from Ancient Greek. From Old French "estrangler," ultimately from Ancient Greek "strangaloomai" ("to be strangled"), related to "strangale" ("a halter").

How many meanings does “strangle” have?

“Strangle” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to kill or injure someone by squeezing their throat and cutting off their air.

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