strangle

verb

• squeeze or constrict the neck of (a person or animal), especially so as to cause death:the victim was strangled with a scarf
• (as adjective strangled) sounding as though the utterer’s throat is constricted:a series of strangled gasps
• suppress (an impulse, action, or sound):she strangled a sob
• hamper or hinder the development or activity of:they allowed bureaucracy to strangle initiative