1
as in to limit
to set bounds or an upper limit for
circumscribed his enthusiasm so as not to make the losing side feel worse
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Recent Examples of circumscribe
Under the Constitution, the concept of a militia is a specific and narrowly circumscribed one.
—
Larry Pino,
The Orlando Sentinel,
1 Feb. 2026
But the apartheid regime became a police state that heavily circumscribed its white citizens’ lives, too.
—
Eve Fairbanks,
The Dial,
27 Jan. 2026
Their sovereign capacity to realign is circumscribed by the very architectures that protect them.
—
Pratap Bhanu Mehta,
Time,
15 Jan. 2026
No matter their financial situation, these characters are circumscribed by their situations (class, responsibilities, families) and desire more—or something else entirely.
—
Diana Arterian,
Literary Hub,
15 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for circumscribe
Larry Pino,
The Orlando Sentinel,
1 Feb. 2026
But the apartheid regime became a police state that heavily circumscribed its white citizens’ lives, too.
—
Eve Fairbanks,
The Dial,
27 Jan. 2026
Their sovereign capacity to realign is circumscribed by the very architectures that protect them.
—
Pratap Bhanu Mehta,
Time,
15 Jan. 2026
No matter their financial situation, these characters are circumscribed by their situations (class, responsibilities, families) and desire more—or something else entirely.
—
Diana Arterian,
Literary Hub,
15 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for circumscribe
Recent Examples of Synonyms for circumscribe
Verb
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Michelle Del Rey Food at the fair was a significant expense for attendees, with options limited on kickoff day.
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Penn Station New York access will be limited again after the match to accommodate trains bringing fans back from the stadium.
Verb
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As a coastal town shaped by generations of immigrants, Half Moon Bay now has a new art display that serves as a reminder of the people and stories that continue to define the community.
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In the absence of an official investigation, the incident last September has been magnified, and perhaps embellished, in the minds of veterans living on the campus, a community defined by the vulnerability of physical disability, substance use and trauma.
Verb
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In recent years, lawmakers have restricted the elections school districts can run these ballot measures in, giving them fewer chances to propose levies and bonds.
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Actually Said About Peptides Speaking on Rogan’s podcast in late February, Kennedy said about 14 of the 19 peptides moved to Category 2, the FDA’s restricted compounding status, in late 2023 would shift back to Category 1, restoring a legal compounding pathway by prescription.
Verb
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Aquatic creatures might be confined to their lake or river.
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Once largely confined to therapeutic and clinical settings, the term now appears everywhere from social media feeds and podcasts to conversations about menopause, recovery and longevity.
Cite this Entry
“Circumscribe.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/circumscribe. Accessed 27 Jun. 2026.
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