as in restrained
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1
as in compelled
to cause (a person) to give in to pressure
constrained by conscience to tell only the truth
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in controlled
to keep from exceeding a desirable degree or level (as of expression)
constrained his anger at the needless interruption
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of constrained
The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 27 Mar. 2026
The airline’s efforts to revive services have been held back by the closure of Qatar’s airspace, alongside the company’s heavier dependence on long-haul corridors that remain constrained.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 25 Mar. 2026
But his brain-imaging studies suggest that, during a psychedelic trip, communication between different regions of the brain becomes far less constrained than during normal consciousness, allowing new ways of thinking to emerge.
—Clayton Dalton, New Yorker, 13 Mar. 2026
Both fables and translations are forms of constrained writing.
—Jan Steyn, The Dial, 10 Mar. 2026
Meta also develops in-house silicon processors and utilizes chips from AMD, which won a notable deal with OpenAI in October as AI giants seek a second source to Nvidia amid constrained supply.
—Katie Tarasov, CNBC, 17 Feb. 2026
The scene from my dream is commonplace not only in my adopted home, the United States, and other liberal democracies, but even, in a constrained fashion, in the neighboring Turkey and Pakistan.
—Arash Azizi, Time, 3 Feb. 2026
Without clean architectures and reliable data, AI initiatives remain constrained and fragile.
—Paul Baier, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
If engaging people with complex lives and constrained resources were easy, our study samples would already be diversified.
—Carrie Leach, The Conversation, 20 Jan. 2026
Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 27 Mar. 2026
Investor universes are no longer constrained by geography, and advisory firms no longer need to be concentrated in a single financial district to compete at the highest level.
—William Jones, USA Today, 26 Mar. 2026
Much of the plan depends on leveraging outside funding and private development — both of which are constrained by the same financial pressures that limit new construction.
—Stephen Martin, Oklahoma Watch, 24 Mar. 2026
According to data from online shipping marketplace Freightos, the first week of the war saw many bookings suspended, which raised alarms that trade could become increasingly constrained in the weeks to come.
—Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 23 Mar. 2026
His core thesis was that the president’s formal constitutional powers are constrained, with their effectiveness reliant on their ability to bargain and persuade other key political players.
—Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 23 Mar. 2026
Hezbollah joined the war in solidarity with the Palestinian group out of conviction that Israel would be constrained in its response by concerns of Hezbollah’s offensive capabilities.
—Asher Kaufman, The Conversation, 20 Mar. 2026
Interviews with more than a half-dozen Black students describe a campus where racist incidents and microaggressions feel routine and where meaningful conversations about race are increasingly constrained.
—Miami Herald, 20 Mar. 2026
According to sources, production remains constrained by manufacturing complexity.
—Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 20 Mar. 2026
Adjective
In other words, giving reasonable levers for constrained districts and kids who have a clear career pathway that doesn’t require language study.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 27 Mar. 2026
The airline’s efforts to revive services have been held back by the closure of Qatar’s airspace, alongside the company’s heavier dependence on long-haul corridors that remain constrained.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 25 Mar. 2026
But his brain-imaging studies suggest that, during a psychedelic trip, communication between different regions of the brain becomes far less constrained than during normal consciousness, allowing new ways of thinking to emerge.
—Clayton Dalton, New Yorker, 13 Mar. 2026
Both fables and translations are forms of constrained writing.
—Jan Steyn, The Dial, 10 Mar. 2026
Meta also develops in-house silicon processors and utilizes chips from AMD, which won a notable deal with OpenAI in October as AI giants seek a second source to Nvidia amid constrained supply.
—Katie Tarasov, CNBC, 17 Feb. 2026
The scene from my dream is commonplace not only in my adopted home, the United States, and other liberal democracies, but even, in a constrained fashion, in the neighboring Turkey and Pakistan.
—Arash Azizi, Time, 3 Feb. 2026
Without clean architectures and reliable data, AI initiatives remain constrained and fragile.
—Paul Baier, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
If engaging people with complex lives and constrained resources were easy, our study samples would already be diversified.
—Carrie Leach, The Conversation, 20 Jan. 2026
Verb
This status temporarily pauses collection efforts, meaning the IRS will not pursue actions like wage garnishment or bank levies while your financial situation remains constrained.
—Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 27 Mar. 2026
Investor universes are no longer constrained by geography, and advisory firms no longer need to be concentrated in a single financial district to compete at the highest level.
—William Jones, USA Today, 26 Mar. 2026
Much of the plan depends on leveraging outside funding and private development — both of which are constrained by the same financial pressures that limit new construction.
—Stephen Martin, Oklahoma Watch, 24 Mar. 2026
According to data from online shipping marketplace Freightos, the first week of the war saw many bookings suspended, which raised alarms that trade could become increasingly constrained in the weeks to come.
—Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 23 Mar. 2026
His core thesis was that the president’s formal constitutional powers are constrained, with their effectiveness reliant on their ability to bargain and persuade other key political players.
—Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 23 Mar. 2026
Hezbollah joined the war in solidarity with the Palestinian group out of conviction that Israel would be constrained in its response by concerns of Hezbollah’s offensive capabilities.
—Asher Kaufman, The Conversation, 20 Mar. 2026
Interviews with more than a half-dozen Black students describe a campus where racist incidents and microaggressions feel routine and where meaningful conversations about race are increasingly constrained.
—Miami Herald, 20 Mar. 2026
According to sources, production remains constrained by manufacturing complexity.
—Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 20 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for constrained
Adjective
-
Grace had given us this restrained performance.—
Chris Murphy,
Vanity Fair,
27 Mar. 2026
-
High ceilings, expansive windows, and a restrained neutral palette creates an atmosphere that feels instantly and effortlessly calm.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Discussions were had at those meetings, and every single thing that has happened has been compelled by council action.—
Jack Fink,
CBS News,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Your position urging Broward County to choose resiliency over regret reflected exactly why so many residents felt compelled to speak up.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Israel, meanwhile, saw Nasser’s rising influence across the Arab world as a danger, and wanted an excuse to cut him down, and to target Palestinian fedayeen militants who were operating in Gaza and the Sinai Peninsula, which were both controlled by Egypt at the time.—
Ishaan Tharoor,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
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Instead of pushing from a single point, assistance is distributed through the stride, making movement feel more stable and controlled.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
30 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Participants who appeared engaged, responsive, and comfortable in the interaction, maintaining eye contact and seeming open rather than inhibited, were far more likely to be liked.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
18 Mar. 2026
-
Some players appeared inhibited, none more so than winger Leon Bailey.—
Jacob Tanswell,
New York Times,
22 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Soft, adjustable lighting, outdoor rain showers with peepholes framing the scenery, incredibly comfy poolside daybeds, super-crisp sheets, open-plan bathrooms with capacious closets—everything works, but nothing feels forced or superfluous.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
30 Mar. 2026
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But Broidy’s suit received tremendous publicity, driving away all of Global Risk’s clients, even the Qataris, and Chalker was forced to lay off its entire staff.—
David D. Kirkpatrick,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
This indicates that the state is homeostatically regulated — meaning their bodies need it.—
Samantha Agate,
Miami Herald,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Discharges by wastewater treatment plans are regulated by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, which sets temperature and water quality standards.—
Caitlin Looby,
jsonline.com,
27 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Tel Aviv, Israel — Undermining this moment of relief for many repressed Iranians is that killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is a perilously simple fix to a very complex problem.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN Money,
1 Mar. 2026
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And that probably comes from seeing women in my life who have been so repressed that the eyes become their only real means of communication.—
Kennedy French,
Variety,
28 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Singh, however, argued that Jones was not coerced but fearful of the consequences.—
Grethel Aguila,
Miami Herald,
23 Mar. 2026
-
Our university’s institutional review board approved our procedures, making sure Chris was safe and not coerced in any way.—
David Hu,
The Conversation,
18 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Constrained.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/constrained. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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