1
as in to compel
to cause (a person) to give in to pressure
constrained by conscience to tell only the truth
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to regulate
to keep from exceeding a desirable degree or level (as of expression)
constrained his anger at the needless interruption
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of constrain
Tuesday's vote ended with 189 voting in favor and 235 voting in opposition of constraining the president's authority.
—
Alex Sundby,
CBS News,
30 June 2026
Her gait is so constrained by her frailty that her feet hardly leave the ground.
—
Meghan O’Gieblyn,
Harpers Magazine,
30 June 2026
So far, Milei has defended his Cabinet chief, even as the scandal damaged his government’s public image, constrained his political leverage in negotiations with allies and undermined his communication about spending cuts to Argentines scraping by on salaries that increasingly fall behind inflation.
—
Clara Preve,
Los Angeles Times,
28 June 2026
Because whey is a byproduct of cheesemaking, the dairy industry cannot build a whey plant in isolation, and the processing capacity to convert liquid whey into powder is constrained.
—
Krysta Escobar,
CNBC,
28 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for constrain
Alex Sundby,
CBS News,
30 June 2026
Her gait is so constrained by her frailty that her feet hardly leave the ground.
—
Meghan O’Gieblyn,
Harpers Magazine,
30 June 2026
So far, Milei has defended his Cabinet chief, even as the scandal damaged his government’s public image, constrained his political leverage in negotiations with allies and undermined his communication about spending cuts to Argentines scraping by on salaries that increasingly fall behind inflation.
—
Clara Preve,
Los Angeles Times,
28 June 2026
Because whey is a byproduct of cheesemaking, the dairy industry cannot build a whey plant in isolation, and the processing capacity to convert liquid whey into powder is constrained.
—
Krysta Escobar,
CNBC,
28 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for constrain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for constrain
Verb
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Detective Joshua Hylton was granted a geofence warrant that compelled Google to search its database and identify every cellphone in a 17½-acre area around the bank, including private residences and a church, for a period of two hours.
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The Current building the stadium, of course, helped compel the expansion that opened in May with a stop that is about a five-minute walk from the stadium.
Verb
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The clinical version dates to research in the 1960s and 1970s, when devices tracked heart rate variability, muscle tension and skin temperature to help people regulate what was once considered automatic.
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The chronic disease, which impairs the body’s ability to properly regulate blood sugar, contributed to 94,445 deaths that year.
Verb
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Enterprises that route requests between multiple models can be coerced into selecting the weakest route.
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What’s not clear is whether the department will eventually use its muscle to coerce builders, suppliers, and property owners into upgrading their sheds and fielding them more sparingly.
Verb
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Pomegranates also contain vitamin K and folate, which can help support healthy blood clotting and cell growth, respectively.
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The Lineage warehouse, built in 2018, is likely to contain different materials of concern.
Verb
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Extreme heat has forced several communities in the Washington area to cancel or scale back their Independence Day celebrations.
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The Kings forced 20 turnovers, leading to a 22-6 advantage in points off turnovers.
Verb
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Russia meanwhile has claimed that its forces now control the important town of Kostyantynivka in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine.
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The plant also can be controlled by applying a nonselective herbicide, but that will not save digging.
Verb
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Meanwhile, Miami Planning Director David Snow told commissioners, the city has been obligated to approve dozens of Live Local projects, though only two are under construction.
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The Montreux Convention obligates Turkey to allow commercial ships freedom of passage, but allows the country to charge for some specific things, including sanitary, pilotage, towage and lighthouse services.
Verb
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In California…there has been little success in restraining these abuses over the past decade.
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Croc Docs researcher Eric Suarez and Cole with the SFWMD restrained the python while Welty drew blood from a vein near the base of her tail.
Cite this Entry
“Constrain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/constrain. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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