| Main Entry: | |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | smother, block |
| Synonyms: | asphyxiate, bar, check, clog, close, congest, constrict, dam, die, drown, fill, gag, garrote, gasp, gibbet, kill, noose, obstruct, occlude, overpower, retard, squeeze, stifle, stop, stopper, strangle, strangulate, stuff, stunt, suffocate, suppress, throttle, wring |
| Antonyms: | release, unblock, unconstrict |
| Main Entry: | constriction |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | blockage |
| Synonyms: | binding, choking, compression, constraint, contraction, cramp, impediment, limitation, narrowing, pressure, reduction, restriction, squeezing, stenosis, stricture, tightness |
| Antonyms: | opening |
| Main Entry: | interference |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | meddling, impedance |
| Synonyms: | arrest, background, backseat driving, barging in, barring, blocking, checking, choking, clashing, clogging, conflict, hampering, hindrance, intermeddling, interposition, intervention, intrusion, meddlesomeness, obstruction, opposition, prying, resistance, retardation, tackling, tampering, trespassing |
| Antonyms: | aid, assistance, help |
| Main Entry: | tight |
| Part of Speech: | adjective |
| Definition: | sealed |
| Synonyms: | airtight, blind, blocked, bolted, choking, clumped, cramping, crushing, cutting, fast, fastened, firm, fixed, hermetic, hermetically sealed, impenetrable, impermeable, impervious, locked, nailed, obstructed, padlocked, pinching, plugged, proof, secure, short, shrunken, shut, skintight, slammed, smothering, snapped, sound, stopped up, tied, tied up, uncomfortable, watertight |
| Notes: | the choice of 'tight' or 'tightly' depends on whether it is the result or the application that is emphasized; if it is an enduring state, you would use 'tight' |
| Antonyms: | loose, open, unsealed, wide |
| Main Entry: | stricture |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | constriction |
| Synonyms: | astringency, binding, choking, compression, contraction, narrowing, restraint, shrinking, squeezing, strangulation, tightening, tightness |
| Main Entry: | asphyxiate |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | cut off air |
| Synonyms: | choke, drown, smother, stifle, strangle, strangulate, suffocate |
| Antonyms: | breathe, loosen |
| Main Entry: | block |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | obstruct |
| Synonyms: | arrest, bar, barricade, block out, blockade, brake, catch, charge, check, choke, clog, close, close off, close out, congest, cut off, dam, deter, fill, halt, hang up, hinder, hold up, impede, intercept, interfere with, occlude, plug, prevent, shut off, shut out, stall, stonewall, stop, stop up, stopper, stymie, tackle, take out of play, thwart |
| Notes: | a bloc is a group of countries in special alliance while a block is an obstruction, an interruption, or a rectangular area or shape |
| Antonyms: | let go, let up, open, unblock |
| Main Entry: | charge |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | load, tax |
| Synonyms: | afflict, burden, choke, clog, commit, cram, crowd, cumber, encumber, entrust, fill, heap, impregnate, instill, lade, pack, penetrate, permeate, pervade, pile, ram, saddle, saturate, suffuse, transfuse, weigh |
| Main Entry: | check |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | hinder, restrain |
| Synonyms: | arrest, baffle, bar, bit, bottleneck, bridle, checkmate, choke, circumvent, constrain, control, counteract, curb, cut short, delay, discourage, foil, frustrate, halt, harness, hold, hold back, hold down, hold in, impede, inhibit, interrupt, keep back, limit, moderate, neutralize, nip in the bud, obstruct, obviate, pause, play for time, preclude, prevent, rebuff, reduce, rein in, repress, repulse, retard, slacken pace, slow down, snub, squelch, stay, stop, suppress, tame, terminate, thwart, withhold |
| Antonyms: | aid, allow, assist, expedite, help, indulge, liberate, permit |