constipate

verb

con·​sti·​pate ˈkän(t)-stə-ˌpāt 

constipated; constipating

transitive verb

1

: to cause constipation in

2

: to make immobile, inactive, or dull : stultify

… so much clutter … will tend to constipate the novel's working order.

—The Times Literary Supplement (London)

Examples of constipate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

If you’re constipated, a high-fiber breakfast paired with fluids can help support a bowel movement. — Sarah Jividen, Verywell Health, 23 July 2026

Teams may not want to risk their athletes feeling even a little more sluggish, itchy, constipated, diarrhea-ry or whatever. — Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026

The alpha heroes of 1980s romances—ranch owners, corporate raiders, anyone played by Michael Douglas—tended to be emotionally constipated anti-feminists intent on dominating the opposite sex by using testosterone and wads of cash. — Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 10 June 2026

By early this month, Piper was constipated and drooling excessively, and her left eye seemed droopy, Everett said. — Aria Bendix, NBC news, 22 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Medieval Latin constipatus, past participle of constipare, from Latin, to crowd together, from com- + stipare to pack tight — more at stiff

First Known Use

1533, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for constipate

• abdicate
• abrogate
• acetate
• activate
• actuate
• aggravate
• agitate
• alginate
• alienate
• allocate
• amputate
• angulate

Kids Definition

constipate

verb

con·​sti·​pate ˈkän(t)-stə-ˌpāt 

constipated; constipating

: to cause constipation in

Medical Definition

constipate

transitive verb

con·​sti·​pate ˈkän(t)-stə-ˌpāt 

constipated; constipating

: to make costive : cause constipation in