procrustean bed

noun

variants often Procrustean bed
: a scheme or pattern into which someone or something is arbitrarily forced

Examples of procrustean bed in a Sentence

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The Guild also voiced alarm that The Sun has published articles that do not fit the Procrustean bed of the AP’s industry standards. — Armstrong Williams, Baltimore Sun, 12 June 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1832, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of procrustean bed was in 1832

Rhymes for procrustean bed

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Browse Nearby Words

procrustean
procrustean bed
Procrustes
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Cite this Entry

“Procrustean bed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/procrustean%20bed. Accessed 16 Jul. 2026.

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