choke out

You say something with difficulty because you are crying, frightened, or unable to breathe easily.

• She choked out my name.
• He managed to choke out a quiet apology.
• "Help me," she choked out through her tears.

How to use it: choke out something (She choked out a few words.); choke something out (He choked it out between sobs.)

Similar words: gasp out

Common phrases: choke out something, choke out a reply, choke something out

Plants prevent other plants from growing by taking their space, light, water, or food.

• Weeds choked out the flowers.
• These vines can choke out native trees.
• We cleared the grass before it choked out our seedlings.

How to use it: choke out something (Thick weeds choked out the young plants.)

Similar words: crowd out, smother

Common phrases: choke out plants, choke out the grass, choke something out

You press someone’s neck with a fighting hold until they lose consciousness.

• The wrestler choked out his opponent.
• He was choked out before the referee intervened.
• Did the fighter choke him out in the first round?

How to use it: choke someone out (The fighter choked his opponent out.)

Similar words: render unconscious

Common phrases: choke out someone, choke someone out

You stop a fire burning by cutting off the air or fuel it needs.

• Sand choked out the fire.
• A heavy blanket choked out the small flames.
• The fire was choked out when its air supply stopped.

How to use it: choke out something (The sand choked out the flames.)

Similar words: smother, extinguish, put out

Opposites: ignite

Common phrases: choke out flames, choke out the fire, choke something out

You destroy something by cutting off money, supplies, or another thing it needs to survive.

• The funding cuts choked out the project.
• Large firms choked out smaller businesses by controlling essential supplies.
• The blockade slowly choked out local industry.

How to use it: choke out something (The loss of funding choked out the project.)

Similar words: strangle, stifle

Common phrases: choke out competition, choke out a business, choke something out

Something stops light from reaching a place.

• Heavy curtains choked out the light.
• The forest canopy choked out almost all sunlight.
• Dark clouds choked out the last evening light.

How to use it: choke out something (Thick branches choked out the sunlight.)

Similar words: block, shut out

Common phrases: choke out sunlight, choke out the light