Synonyms

choking

American

[choh-king] / ˈtʃoʊ kɪŋ /

adjective

(of the voice) husky and strained, especially because of emotion.
causing the feeling of being choked.

a choking cloud of smoke.

Other Word Forms

chokingly adverb

Etymology

Origin of choking

choke + -ing ²

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

That choking siege in July was the worst but not the first attack by an enemy that Los Angeles would be fighting long after World War II was over.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 26, 2026

McPaul had been a resident at the care home since 2009 and suffered from osteoarthritis and chronic oedema, while having a history of choking on his food.

From BBC • Mar. 25, 2026

Tehran was shrouded in thick, choking smoke from burning fuel depots as Mojtaba Khamenei took up his role as Iran’s new supreme leader over the weekend.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 9, 2026

That strait is effectively closed now, choking off a fifth of the world’s LNG supply.

From Barron's • Mar. 2, 2026

I get enough air then, but the cold raw air freezes the sides of my throat and blood vessels burst and my throat generates mucus and soon I am choking on it.

From "Woodsong" by Gary Paulsen

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023