1
as in limiting
to set bounds or an upper limit for
circumscribed his enthusiasm so as not to make the losing side feel worse
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in defining
to mark the limits of
Lake Michigan circumscribes the city of Chicago on the east
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of circumscribing
In quick succession, the Court began circumscribing Congress’s ability to define rights and act on its constitutional imagination.
—
Duncan Hosie, The Atlantic, 13 Jan. 2026
This wouldn’t be the first time the Court has avoided a head-on fight with the other branches, especially after Congress makes noise about circumscribing its authority.
—Time, 14 Nov. 2025
Duncan Hosie, The Atlantic, 13 Jan. 2026
This wouldn’t be the first time the Court has avoided a head-on fight with the other branches, especially after Congress makes noise about circumscribing its authority.
—Time, 14 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for circumscribing
Verb
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To ease the transition, experts recommend adjusting sleep schedules gradually, limiting caffeine intake, and using light exposure strategically to help the body adapt to the new time.—
Miami Herald Archives,
Miami Herald,
5 Mar. 2026
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Many homeowners who locked in ultra-low borrowing costs during the early years of the pandemic have been reluctant to sell and take on significantly higher rates, limiting the number of homes for sale and keeping prices elevated.—
Samantha Delouya,
CNN Money,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
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But the potentially season-defining stretch can’t be at the forefront of their minds now.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Mar. 2026
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If you’re hooked on Ryan Murphy’s Love Story, a slate of classic and recent series deliver the same 1990s glamour, New York energy and era-defining style.—
Hanna Wickes,
Miami Herald,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Particularly important are removing the regulations inflating refining costs in the state and overly restricting gas supply options.—
Wayne Winegarden,
Oc Register,
28 Feb. 2026
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The report concluded that the University of California has failed to enforce policies restricting faculty from using university resources and platforms to advance political advocacy.—
Molly Gibbs,
Mercury News,
28 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Circumscribing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/circumscribing. Accessed 9 Mar. 2026.
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