confine 1 of 2

confine

2 of 2

noun

Synonym Chooser

How is the word confine different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of confine are circumscribe, limit, and restrict. While all these words mean "to set bounds for," confine suggests severe restraint and a resulting cramping, fettering, or hampering.

our choices were confined by finances

When is it sensible to use circumscribe instead of confine?

The words circumscribe and confine are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, circumscribe stresses a restriction on all sides and by clearly defined boundaries.

the work of the investigating committee was carefully circumscribed

When might limit be a better fit than confine?

The words limit and confine can be used in similar contexts, but limit implies setting a point or line (as in time, space, speed, or degree) beyond which something cannot or is not permitted to go.

visits are limited to 30 minutes

When is restrict a more appropriate choice than confine?

The meanings of restrict and confine largely overlap; however, restrict suggests a narrowing or tightening or restraining within or as if within an encircling boundary.

laws intended to restrict the freedom of the press

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of confine
Verb
Opening fire with the machine gun mounted on the Guatemalan military truck in such confines or against Mexican police could have also exacerbated the situation. Edgar H. Clemente, Los Angeles Times, 10 June 2025 Five of the team’s next six matches will be contested in the friendly confines of Children’s Mercy Park. Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 9 June 2025
Noun
Chhabria made clear that his ruling is confined to the facts in front of him and that the outcome could be different in most cases. Gene Maddaus, Variety, 26 June 2025 But the hype isn’t confined to Chongqing — travel demand is rising across cities in mainland China. Bernice Ooi, CNBC, 26 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for confine
Recent Examples of Synonyms for confine
Verb
  • North Korea restricts freedom of movement and suffers from persistent economic hardships, with around 60% of North Koreans estimated to be in poverty.
    Se Eun Gong, NPR, 5 July 2025
  • Cincinnati is restricting nighttime rentals of Red Bikes and electric scooters in the urban core over the Fourth of July weekend.
    David Ferrara, The Enquirer, 4 July 2025
Verb
  • Those imprisoned under that code were forced to wear a pink triangle to denote homosexuality.
    Ashley Mackin Solomon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 June 2025
  • The crackdown left hundreds killed, thousands imprisoned and several executed.
    Sahar Zand, ABC News, 28 June 2025
Noun
  • Water tank project removed A plan for a replacement water storage tank in La Jolla that has changed in scope several times over the past decade has changed again — so much so that it was removed from the city budget as a capital project.
    Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 July 2025
  • In other words, the show approaches its concept with the scope of an epic novel (which makes sense, as it's based on a beloved series of novels).
    Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 3 July 2025
Verb
  • The White House planned to limit classified information flow to Congress following the leak, which immediately prompted pushback from Democrats.
    Lauren Green, The Washington Examiner, 29 June 2025
  • That limit will remain at the $40,000 limit set in the House bill, but it will be limited to a five-year period, rather than 10 years.
    Ani Freedman, Fortune, 29 June 2025
Verb
  • He’d been arrested and jailed after the victim’s death on unrelated charges in a different jurisdiction.
    Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 25 June 2025
  • Venus' killer fled the scene and was never found, but the subjects of I'm Your Venus uncover new details related to the murder that weren't publicized at the time of the performer's death — including a disturbing confession from an unidentified man previously jailed over a rape case.
    EW.com, EW.com, 24 June 2025
Noun
  • But at the time, the smaller geographical reach of the shaking around Santa Barbara led some to argue that, essentially, earthquakes were a bigger problem for Quebec than Southern California.
    Rong-Gong Lin II, Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2025
  • By climbing well above these altitudes, the great snipe puts itself out of reach of most of these hunters.
    Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 28 June 2025
Noun
  • All in all, with that many golfers dominating the Detroit Golf Club to this extent, the door is wide open for someone to make a move up the leaderboard and take home the PGA Tour event win on Sunday.
    Kilty Cleary, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 June 2025
  • That pact will inspire confidence and make peace to the extent that all signatories and other affected parties (including Israel) still trust in international law and legitimacy.
    Andreas Kluth, Mercury News, 28 June 2025
Noun
  • Masked up: Federal officers — often wearing masks but not uniforms or displaying badges — are arresting people outside courtroom hearings, during traffic stops and in workplace sweeps.
    Daniel Wine, CNN Money, 23 June 2025
  • San Antonio’s sweep of the latter series kept the average down to just 9.29 million viewers per game, while their 4-2 victory over the Nets in 2003 managed 9.86 million.
    Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 23 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Confine.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/confine. Accessed 8 Jul. 2025.

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