Word
stranglehold
Phoneticsstran·gle·hold, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈstɹæŋɡəɫˌhoʊɫd/
UK/stɹˈæŋɡəlhˌəʊld/
Countable noun
Definition
n. a very tight grip or control over something, so it cannot move or grow freely. You use it when one person, company, or group has almost total power over something else.
n. a position of complete and restrictive control that prevents movement, competition, or development. Often used figuratively for economic, political, or psychological dominance.
Examples
“One company has a stranglehold on bus travel here.”
“The two supermarkets have a stranglehold on food prices in the town, so smaller shops cannot compete.”
“Although new streaming services appear every year, the oldest platforms keep a stranglehold on viewers through exclusive shows and long contracts.”
Examples
simple
“One company has a stranglehold on bus travel here.”
contextual
“The two supermarkets have a stranglehold on food prices in the town, so smaller shops cannot compete.”
complex
“Although new streaming services appear every year, the oldest platforms keep a stranglehold on viewers through exclusive shows and long contracts.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “stranglehold” in context.
Verb
01. break stranglehold
“New legislation aims to break the company's stranglehold on energy supply.”
verb + noun
02. loosen stranglehold
“Reforms have begun to loosen the state's stranglehold over the economy.”
verb + noun
03. maintain stranglehold
“The party uses electoral rules to maintain its stranglehold on power.”
verb + noun
Adjective
04. complete stranglehold
“The cartel has a complete stranglehold on the city's construction industry.”
adj + noun
05. corporate stranglehold
“Critics say the corporate stranglehold on farming hurts small producers.”
adj + noun
06. iron stranglehold
“The military regime kept an iron stranglehold on the press for decades.”
adj + noun
Noun
07. stranglehold on market
“The merger gave the firm a dangerous stranglehold on the market.”
noun + prep + noun
08. stranglehold on supply
“A single producer's stranglehold on supply pushed prices sharply higher.”
noun + prep + noun
09. break free from the stranglehold
“Small farmers struggle to break free from the stranglehold of big distributors.”
10. break the stranglehold on
“The startup hopes to break the stranglehold on digital payments.”
11. have a stranglehold on
“Three firms have a stranglehold on textbook publishing in the country.”
12. maintain a stranglehold over
“The regime maintains a stranglehold over banks and foreign trade.”
Usage
Commonly follows 'have' or 'keep' and pairs with 'on' ('a stranglehold on').
Real-World Examples
“As has often been pointed out, we live in an era where the traditional Anglo-American stranglehold over pop has been broken.” “Sonia Bompastor led Chelsea to an unbeaten domestic treble in her first season in charge, but it did not go to plan in 2025-26 as their six-year stranglehold on the WSL ended.” “The whole region, Mencken argued, was a Baptist-Methodist stranglehold where fun and free thought were banished.” “Discussions around misinformation and the impact of big tech’s stranglehold on our lives add an interesting through-line.” Etymology
From strangle + hold.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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