SportsAugust 20, 2026

stranglehold

STRANG-guhl-hohld

Definition

A dominant, restrictive, or monopolistic grip or influence over a particular area or situation.

Etymology

Derived from the verb 'strangle' and the noun 'hold', the term originally referred to a wrestling maneuver intended to choke an opponent. It evolved metaphorically to describe any situation where one party exerts crushing power or absolute control.

In the news

The article uses the term to describe the Big Ten conference's overwhelming control and dominance over the landscape of college football.

Eight Big Ten Football Teams Headline 2026 Preseason AP Top 25 Poll

Read the full article ↗

Big Ten Conference

Related words

Learn a word like this every day

Meet one new word every morning.

Newspoken pulls one carefully chosen word from the day’s news — with a clear definition, context, and light review that makes it stick. Get it on your phone.