1. a wrestling hold in which one person’s arm is placed around another’s neck to restrict breathing
Usage: wrestling; martial arts
2. complete control or domination over something, especially in a way that restricts freedom or progress
Usage: figurative

Examples

• The wrestler applied several strangleholds during the match.
• He escaped from the stranglehold by twisting away quickly.
• The large corporation had strangleholds on several key markets.
• Small businesses struggled against the strangleholds of major retailers.
• The dictator maintained strangleholds over the media and education.
• Breaking free from these economic strangleholds required new policies.
• The coach taught students how to defend against various strangleholds.