constrain

con·strain

transitive verb \kən-ˈstrān\

Definition of CONSTRAIN

1

a : to force by imposed stricture, restriction, or limitation

b : to restrict the motion of (a mechanical body) to a particular mode

2

: compress; also : to clasp tightly

3

: to secure by or as if by bonds : confine; broadly : limit

4

: to force or produce in an unnatural or strained manner <a constrained smile>

5

: to hold back by or as if by force <constraining my mind not to wander from the task — Charles Dickens>

— con·strained·ly \-ˈstrā-nəd-lē, -ˈstrānd-lē\ adverb

Examples of CONSTRAIN

1. <constrained by conscience to tell only the truth>
2. <constrained his anger at the needless interruption>

Origin of CONSTRAIN

Middle English, from Anglo-French constraindre, from Latin constringere to constrict, constrain, from com- + stringere to draw tight — more at strain

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to CONSTRAIN

Synonyms

blackjack, coerce, compel, force, dragoon, drive, impel, impress, make, muscle, obligate, oblige, press, pressure, sandbag

Antonyms

lose

Related Words

browbeat, bulldoze, bully, cow, hector, intimidate; blackmail, high-pressure, menace, shame, terrorize, threaten; drag; badger, harass, hound

Near Antonyms

allow, let, permit; argue, convince, induce, move, persuade, prevail (on or upon), satisfy, talk (into), win (over)

See Synonym Discussion at force

Rhymes with CONSTRAIN

abstain, again, air lane, airplane, amain, arcane, arraign, attain, Bahrain, Bassein, Beltane, biplane, birdbrain, block plane, bloodstain, boat train, brain drain, bugbane, campaign, champagne, champaign, Champlain, checkrein, chicane, chilblain, choke chain, chow mein, cinquain, cocaine, Cockaigne, Coltrane, coxswain, complain, contain, cordwain, cowbane, crackbrain, demesne, deplane, destain, detain, detrain, devein, disdain, distain, distrain, dogbane, domain, drivetrain, dumb cane, edge-grain, Elaine, enchain, enplane, entrain, ethane, explain, eyestrain, fast lane, fleabane, floatplane, floodplain, food chain, forebrain, Fort Wayne, Gawain, germane, Great Dane, grosgrain, half plane, henbane, hindbrain, house-train, humane, Hussein, Igraine, immane, inane, ingrain, insane, jack plane, lamebrain, left brain, lightplane, lo mein, long-chain, Lorraine, maintain, marchpane, membrane, methane, midbrain, migraine, Montaigne, montane, moraine, mortmain, Moulmein, mundane, neck-rein, New Spain, obtain, octane, ordain, pertain, plain-Jane, profane, propane, ptomaine, purslane, quatrain, raise Cain, refrain, remain, restrain, retain, retrain, right brain, romaine, sailplane, sea-lane, seaplane, seatrain, split-brain, sustain, tailplane, tearstain, terrane, Touraine, towplane, triplane, Ukraine, unchain, urbane, vervain, vicereine, villein, volplane, warplane, wave train, wolfsbane