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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of constraint
By extension, space constraints are even tighter in consumer electronics such as smartphones and drones.
—
Ni Tao, Interesting Engineering, 15 Sep. 2025
The slip-on design and luxe leather exteriors instantly upgrade your look, while wide footbeds offer a comfortable space for your feet to sit without constraint.
—Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 12 Sep. 2025
Through speculative thinking and the power of the arts, this collection encourages us to see ourselves outside of the constraints that persist today.
—Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2025
The high-speed rail project, which voters first approved in 2008, has been beset in recent years by funding constraints and lawsuits stymying construction.
—Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 11 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for constraint
Ni Tao, Interesting Engineering, 15 Sep. 2025
The slip-on design and luxe leather exteriors instantly upgrade your look, while wide footbeds offer a comfortable space for your feet to sit without constraint.
—Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 12 Sep. 2025
Through speculative thinking and the power of the arts, this collection encourages us to see ourselves outside of the constraints that persist today.
—Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2025
The high-speed rail project, which voters first approved in 2008, has been beset in recent years by funding constraints and lawsuits stymying construction.
—Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 11 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for constraint
Recent Examples of Synonyms for constraint
Noun
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Cox also called for restraint in reaction to Kirk’s assassination, noting that residents of Utah did not riot or loot or engage in violence, and instead held vigils and said prayers.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Despite efforts by the Biden administration to constrain the spyware market through its executive order, trade and visa restrictions, and sanctions, the industry has continued to operate largely without restraint.—
Vas Panagiotopoulos,
ArsTechnica,
11 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Still, any further restrictions on shots by ACIP could have trickle-down effects, further depressing already declining immunization rates for vaccine-preventable diseases and raising the risk of outbreaks.—
Annika Kim Constantino,
CNBC,
18 Sep. 2025
-
Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas and Utah have all received approval from the USDA to move forward with these restrictions.—
Aliss Higham,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
By the time the impeachment trial commenced, the top-down pressure from prominent, national Republicans could be seen and felt.—
Kimberly Ross,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Sep. 2025
-
His game plan was to move forward, pressure Volkanovski and land with power.—
Trent Reinsmith,
Forbes.com,
12 Sep. 2025
Noun
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That sequencing discipline — contracts and notaries first, token sale last — is what turns digital claims into enforceable assets.—
Sean Lee,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
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Dividend growers also tend to be leaders in their subsectors, having demonstrated capital discipline in terms of reinvesting in their business and generating stockholder payouts, said Matt Quinlan, portfolio manager at Franklin Templeton.—
Michelle Fox,
CNBC,
16 Sep. 2025
Noun
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That limitation has capped how much carbon plants can lock away.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
13 Sep. 2025
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Gulf states like Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and the UAE could utilize their vast sovereign wealth funds to impose trade limitations on Israel.—
Mostafa Salem,
CNN Money,
13 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Castro’s talent lies in meticulously creating a realistic—and entertaining—portrait of one man’s compulsions, bringing individual texture to a curious social phenomenon.—
Jeremy Gordon,
The Atlantic,
12 Sep. 2025
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And that compulsion — a genuine, profound desire to share her findings with the world — makes for a classic, stick-to-your ribs documentary experience about a fascinating person.—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
11 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The distraction does not eliminate the need for state repression.—
Time,
Time,
10 Sep. 2025
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Russia’s culture ministry, alongside law enforcement agencies, is strictly enforcing these guidelines, merging its own cultural institutions into the country’s already mighty propaganda and repression machines.—
Yegor Mostovshikov,
The Dial,
9 Sep. 2025
Noun
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This also supports the idea that swearing can momentarily activate mental states that reduce inhibition and allow the body and mind to perform at a higher level.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
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Lockwood’s lack of inhibition can lead to trouble.—
Alexandra Schwartz,
New Yorker,
25 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Constraint.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/constraint. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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