1
as in limit
a real or imaginary point beyond which a person or thing cannot go the bridge has a weight limitation that bars heavy trucks from crossing it

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2
as in restriction
something that limits one's freedom of action or choice the state has some fairly strict limitations on the sale and use of alcoholic beverages

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3
as in constraint
the act or practice of keeping something (as an activity) within certain boundaries the limitation on the number of vehicles allowed on the island does not sit well with year-round residents

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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 limitation Direct connection to, and feedback with, the real world gets around the limitations of language that LLMs currently deal with, and offers the potential for AI to build a different understanding of the world. New Atlas, 29 June 2025 There are indeed elements of Stick that come off as pandering…Yet within the limitations of its formula, Stick works. Judy Berman, Time, 27 June 2025 One of the primary limitations of the study was that only three disposable e-cigarette brands were tested out of the hundreds currently on the market. Ashley J. Dimella, FOXNews.com, 27 June 2025 Lawmakers could choose to restore this judicial power with new legislation, further restrict it, or leave the current limitations in place. Cassandra Burke Robertson, The Conversation, 27 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for limitation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for limitation
Noun
  • About 44 percent of all rental units in the city are rent-stabilized—which means that there are limits to how much landlords can raise rent each year.
    Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 July 2025
  • There are no limits to the number of donations per person, though fines cannot be forgiven for library items that are lost or damaged.
    Orlando Sentinel Staff, The Orlando Sentinel, 10 July 2025
Noun
  • Starting in the 1970s, home construction plummeted and prices soared in high-opportunity coastal cities because of restrictions on supply.
    Marina Bolotnikova, Vox, 7 July 2025
  • The company said in a statement that inventory value adjustments and the impact of U.S. restrictions on advanced AI chips for China had contributed to the decline in profits.
    Dylan Butts, CNBC, 7 July 2025
Noun
  • Greater Robustness And Reliability: Better equipped to handle out-of-distribution data and novel scenarios safely and reliably by incorporating safety parameters, constraints and logical invariants.
    Anuradha Weeraman, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
  • But as a two-term governor in a blue state, Pritzker has the luxury of not having to make a choice under the usual constraints of seeking a political advantage, said Robin Johnson, a governmental relations, public policy and political consultant.
    Olivia Olander, Chicago Tribune, 30 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Limitation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/limitation. Accessed 15 Jul. 2025.

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