stranglehold
noun
stran·gle·hold
ˈstraŋ-gəl-ˌhōld 
1
: an illegal wrestling hold by which one's opponent is choked
2
: a force or influence that chokes or suppresses freedom of movement or expression
Examples of stranglehold in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
When a mentally disturbed neighbor sets herself on fire and a slumlord tries to extort money from them, the family gets tangled in the corruption that keeps a stranglehold on the slum’s inhabitants.
—
Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2025
Then, as the pre-draft process continued, Miami's Cam Ward gained a stranglehold on that spot.
—David Faris, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Apr. 2025
After four wins in the first five races and seven in the first 10 Grands Prix of the season, Red Bull’s stranglehold on the sport vanished.
—Dan Cancian, Forbes, 8 Mar. 2025
One thing that approaches an autocracy in American government is the Democratic Party’s stranglehold on Chicago and America’s largest cities, which explains their common suffering.
—Chicago Tribune, 3 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stranglehold
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.
Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2025
Then, as the pre-draft process continued, Miami's Cam Ward gained a stranglehold on that spot.
—David Faris, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Apr. 2025
After four wins in the first five races and seven in the first 10 Grands Prix of the season, Red Bull’s stranglehold on the sport vanished.
—Dan Cancian, Forbes, 8 Mar. 2025
One thing that approaches an autocracy in American government is the Democratic Party’s stranglehold on Chicago and America’s largest cities, which explains their common suffering.
—Chicago Tribune, 3 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stranglehold
Cite this Entry
“Stranglehold.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stranglehold. Accessed 27 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
stranglehold
noun
stran·gle·hold
ˈstraŋ-gəl-ˌhōld
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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share