constraint

1
2
as in restriction
something that limits one's freedom of action or choice put legal constraints on the board's activities

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

3

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of constraint For a landlocked country like Armenia, greater regional connectivity is a lifeline, and progress with Turkey, together with TRIPP, can transform Armenia's geography from a constraint into a strategic advantage, opening entirely new trade gateways for investors. Narek Mkrtchyan, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Oct. 2025 Xi, however, faces no such constraints. Elisabeth Buchwald, CNN Money, 10 Oct. 2025 Beilin also meditates on OuLiPo, how Anne Frank hiding from Nazis was, perhaps, the ultimate form of writing with a constraint. Diana Arterian, Literary Hub, 8 Oct. 2025 The Sixers still have some constraints. John Hollinger, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for constraint
Recent Examples of Synonyms for constraint
Noun
  • Through her restraint, Roberts provokes in us some semblance of empathy for her character – in a movie where everyone else is basically monstrous.
    Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 10 Oct. 2025
  • As part of the plea agreement, criminal restraint and battery charges were dismissed.
    Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 10 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Project 2025 calls for Title I to be delivered to states as block grants, or chunks of money with few restrictions.
    Megan O’Matz, ProPublica, 8 Oct. 2025
  • Military officials are pushing forward with new restrictions on the Pentagon press corps despite objections from news organizations and watchdog groups.
    Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 8 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Like any sector of tech, there’s pressure to innovate, of course.
    Allie Garfinkle, Fortune, 10 Oct. 2025
  • The move follows mounting political pressure and marks a shift in how YouTube handles past bans tied to outdated policies.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 10 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Milei instead relied on the IMF’s guidance for promoting fiscal discipline.
    Shawn Tully, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2025
  • Today, the Nobel Prize in Physics remains widely regarded as the most prestigious award in the discipline.
    USA Today, USA Today, 7 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The precise mechanics now accepted as holding back player development in the States — the pay-to-play model at youth level, the limitations of MLS — were not really considered.
    Michael Cox, New York Times, 11 Oct. 2025
  • Siddiqi emphasizes that creative decisions were driven by instinct and extensive discussion rather than external limitations.
    Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 10 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Where does this compulsion stem from?
    Nina Mesfin, New Yorker, 5 Oct. 2025
  • Unlike others of his ilk, Dexter has honed his compulsion and focuses only on bad people in Miami who slip through the hands of justice.
    Barry Garron, HollywoodReporter, 1 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Made as Brazil’s dictatorship was losing its grip, these films confronted repression indirectly, turning sensuality into an act of defiance.
    Lise Pedersen, Variety, 12 Oct. 2025
  • Political scientist Ronald Krebs notes that domestic rights advocates rarely gain lasting momentum from the award, and may even face intensified repression.
    Shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Maintaining the correct proportion of excitation to inhibition is critical for keeping the brain healthy and harmonious.
    Yasemin Saplakoglu, Quanta Magazine, 29 Sep. 2025
  • 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Constraint.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/constraint. Accessed 14 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on constraint

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!