stranglehold

noun

stran·​gle·​hold ˈstraŋ-gəl-ˌhōld How to pronounce stranglehold (audio)
Synonyms of strangleholdnext
1
: an illegal wrestling hold by which one's opponent is choked
2
: a force or influence that stops something from growing or developing
… opened three stores within a year and got a stranglehold on market share.—Inc.

Examples of stranglehold in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
The winner would move within one victory of lifting the Larry O’Brien Trophy that Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls had a stranglehold over for the previous three years. — Emile Nuh, CNN Money, 16 Aug. 2026 This latest twist came after the most recent cycle of attacks failed to break Tehran’s stranglehold on the strait and in fact saw the war expand to the Red Sea and Egypt, threatening even greater fallout for the global economy. — Dennis Romero, NBC news, 3 Aug. 2026 Democrats won two seats on the five-member commission last year, ending the two-decade, all-Republican stranglehold on the utility regulatory panel. — Adam Beam, AJC.com, 3 Aug. 2026 In the churning pool, Max grapples with Tom, who locks him in a stranglehold. — Jp Mangalindan, Time, 31 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for stranglehold

Word History

First Known Use

1893, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of stranglehold was in 1893

Rhymes for stranglehold

See All Rhymes for stranglehold

Browse Nearby Words

strangle
stranglehold
strangler
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Cite this Entry

“Stranglehold.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stranglehold. Accessed 21 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

stranglehold

noun
stran·​gle·​hold ˈstraŋ-gəl-ˌhōld How to pronounce stranglehold (audio)
1
: an illegal wrestling hold by which one's opponent is choked
2
: a force or influence that chokes or blocks freedom of development or expression

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