throttle back

verb

throttled back; throttling back; throttles back
: to reduce the amount of fuel flowing to an engine by adjusting the throttle
He throttled back to 45 mph.
—sometimes used figuratively with respect to intensity
You need to throttle back your anger.

Examples of throttle back in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Larkin found his place on the grid, then throttled back. — Jeff Spry, Space.com, 10 Dec. 2025 And Gulf oil producers that throttled back production will need time to get the oil moving again. — Michelle Chapman, Chicago Tribune, 18 June 2026 Before the war, the strait carried a fifth of the world’s crude oil, and Gulf oil producers that throttled back production will need time to get the oil moving again. — Michelle Chapman, Los Angeles Times, 18 June 2026 Amidst the early struggles, Kansas City throttled back his fastball usage for more breaking stuff and a new sinker in mid-May. — John Laghezza, New York Times, 19 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for throttle back

Rhymes for throttle back

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Browse Nearby Words

throttleable
throttle back
Throttlebottom
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Cite this Entry

“Throttle back.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/throttle%20back. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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