1
as in restraint
the checking of one's true feelings and impulses when dealing with others
in civilized society people do not just say or do whatever they feel like—they exercise some constraint
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in restriction
something that limits one's freedom of action or choice
put legal constraints on the board's activities
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in pressure
the use of power to impose one's will on another
parental constraint can take several different forms, including a denial of the approval that children usually seek from their parents
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of constraint
Gateway was meant to be launched into what NASA calls a near rectilinear halo orbit around the moon, with an apogee far above the lunar surface that demanded tight fuel constraints for landers needed to traverse the distance.
—
Josh Dinner, Space.com, 24 Mar. 2026
Even with those constraints, the winery has continued investing in its operations in recent years, upgrading equipment at a cost of more than $2 million and expanding production capacity at a time when many wineries are scaling back.
—Asaf Elia-Shalev, Sun Sentinel, 23 Mar. 2026
No other theories satisfying the constraints of quantum mechanics and general relativity worked well enough to allow such explicit calculations.
—Quanta Magazine, 23 Mar. 2026
Musk’s latest vision involves overcoming Earth’s energy constraints by building electromagnetic mass drivers on the moon to facilitate this massive-scale AI infrastructure.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 23 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for constraint
Josh Dinner, Space.com, 24 Mar. 2026
Even with those constraints, the winery has continued investing in its operations in recent years, upgrading equipment at a cost of more than $2 million and expanding production capacity at a time when many wineries are scaling back.
—Asaf Elia-Shalev, Sun Sentinel, 23 Mar. 2026
No other theories satisfying the constraints of quantum mechanics and general relativity worked well enough to allow such explicit calculations.
—Quanta Magazine, 23 Mar. 2026
Musk’s latest vision involves overcoming Earth’s energy constraints by building electromagnetic mass drivers on the moon to facilitate this massive-scale AI infrastructure.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 23 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for constraint
Recent Examples of Synonyms for constraint
Noun
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Those documents go on to cite state data that shows a 39% increase in the use of restraints in two separate six-month periods in 2023 and 2024.—
Austen Erblat,
CBS News,
19 Mar. 2026
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The opening two weeks of the current fighting, however, have seen a significant loosening of the restraints on targeting critical infrastructure.—
Kristian Coates Ulrichsen,
The Conversation,
19 Mar. 2026
Noun
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But others told me that an atmosphere of self-censorship and anxiety about unwritten restrictions, had become routine in the industry.—
Taran Khan,
The Dial,
24 Mar. 2026
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But Aaron Barker, president of the AFGE Local 554 in Georgia, said TSA officer unions don't have the same restrictions and can accept donations to distribute to their members.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
23 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Traffic and school pressures brought on by growth concern people in the panhandle.—
John Marks,
Charlotte Observer,
26 Mar. 2026
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Iran also kept up pressure on its Gulf Arab neighbors.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
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As with any discipline, there is something democratic about its effects.—
Caleb Crain,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Mar. 2026
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Wilkens grew up in the 1970s and early ’80s in Kellyville, a no-stoplight town, where her father’s moodiness and brute discipline dominated the household.—
Pamela Colloff,
ProPublica,
24 Mar. 2026
Noun
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There are plenty of free VPN offerings on the market, but most come with strict usage limitations, and some compromise on data privacy.—
Jibin Joseph,
PC Magazine,
20 Mar. 2026
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This time, Petzold addresses its limitations.—
Holden Seidlitz,
New Yorker,
20 Mar. 2026
Noun
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As the investigation twists and intensifies, Izzy is forced to confront her own compulsions and the personal cost of her pursuit of justice.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
20 Mar. 2026
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Auto manufacturers are catering to that compulsion.—
Rachel Swan,
San Francisco Chronicle,
17 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Bart Jansen The Justice Department announced the seizure of four websites for allegedly helping Iran’s hacking efforts, psychological operations and repression in other countries.—
Cybele Mayes-Osterman,
USA Today,
21 Mar. 2026
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Remeslo’s comments were an unusual public display of dissent and personal criticism of Putin in an atmosphere of repression and tight control in Russia, exacerbated by the invasion of Ukraine.—
Yuliya Talmazan,
NBC news,
20 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Metallica plays on the stereo while Garcia and Huerta operate like two rock stars with no inhibitions in the kitchen.—
Jenn Harris,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Mar. 2026
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The blow keeps you awake and the alcohol lowers your inhibitions.—
Mekishana Pierre,
Entertainment Weekly,
4 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Constraint.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/constraint. Accessed 27 Mar. 2026.
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