1
as in to limit
to set bounds or an upper limit for
circumscribed his enthusiasm so as not to make the losing side feel worse
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Recent Examples of circumscribe
Historically, at the strictest cram schools, social interactions were carefully circumscribed.
—
Gideon Lewis-Kraus, The New Yorker, 24 Feb. 2025
The Kremlin would like to circumscribe Iran’s aspiration for regional hegemony without souring relations with the country, which remains its biggest regional ally.
—Dmitry Adamsky, Foreign Affairs, 6 Oct. 2017
This is Mascaro’s most humane film to date, which isn’t to say that August Winds and Neon Bull weren’t also grounded in the individual’s struggle for self-fulfillment outside the strictures of bourgeois circumscribed society.
—Jay D. Weissberg, Deadline, 18 Feb. 2025
Two regulatory limits circumscribed Van Pay and Baumert’s calculations: No shelf can spread more than 350 nautical miles from shore, or more than 100 nautical miles beyond 2,500 meters of depth.
—Jack Truesdale, The Atlantic, 25 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for circumscribe
Gideon Lewis-Kraus, The New Yorker, 24 Feb. 2025
The Kremlin would like to circumscribe Iran’s aspiration for regional hegemony without souring relations with the country, which remains its biggest regional ally.
—Dmitry Adamsky, Foreign Affairs, 6 Oct. 2017
This is Mascaro’s most humane film to date, which isn’t to say that August Winds and Neon Bull weren’t also grounded in the individual’s struggle for self-fulfillment outside the strictures of bourgeois circumscribed society.
—Jay D. Weissberg, Deadline, 18 Feb. 2025
Two regulatory limits circumscribed Van Pay and Baumert’s calculations: No shelf can spread more than 350 nautical miles from shore, or more than 100 nautical miles beyond 2,500 meters of depth.
—Jack Truesdale, The Atlantic, 25 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for circumscribe
Recent Examples of Synonyms for circumscribe
Verb
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For the Howards, renovations are a chance to bring the house back to life—not just limit the damage wrought by the fire 85 years ago.—
Eli Wizevich,
Smithsonian Magazine,
30 Apr. 2025
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But quelling counter-attacks in one direction generally limits them in the other too.—
Mark Carey,
New York Times,
30 Apr. 2025
Verb
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And what will define a successful correspondents' dinner for the Hilton?—
Major Garrett,
CBS News,
26 Apr. 2025
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Non-discrimination practices were defined as interventions like diversity training.—
Janice Gassam Asare,
Forbes.com,
26 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Since the protests a year ago, the university has heavily restricted campus access, drawing a lawsuit from neighbors in Manhattan who say Columbia is violating city and state laws permitting a passageway through campus.—
Eduardo Cuevas,
USA Today,
25 Apr. 2025
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Over the past two months, the state Senate has passed bills seeking to drastically restrict where wind and solar can be built, and to require every watt of new solar that is brought online to be accompanied by a watt of new gas.—
Saul Elbein,
The Hill,
24 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Despite their influence, Black writers are often confined to race-specific topics, underpaid, and overlooked for promotions, further demonstrating that visibility does not equal equity in fashion media.—
Joce Blake,
Essence,
22 Apr. 2025
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We were all largely confined to our homes, and here was a work that was to explore the worst of humanity during a crisis that made the game feel too close for comfort.—
Mary McNamara,
Los Angeles Times,
21 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Circumscribe.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/circumscribe. Accessed 4 May. 2025.
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