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
Paulina Likos, CNBC, 1 Apr. 2026
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
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
Oscar De La Rosa, Boston Herald, 3 Apr. 2026
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has constrained oil supplies, driving up transportation costs for a range of industries.
—Lucia I Suarez Sang, CBS News, 31 Mar. 2026
At the same time, the government remains constrained by the conditions of its bailout agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which limits its ability to introduce subsidies.
—Mayu Saini, Sourcing Journal, 31 Mar. 2026
When authority becomes too concentrated and variation too constrained, the system loses the adaptive capacity that complex environments require.
—Lawrence Rosenberg, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
Well, for starters, in environments where space is constrained, such as industrial sites, dense urban areas, or indoor facilities, the ability to move laterally without tilting greatly reduces collision risk.
—Etiido Uko
march 30, New Atlas, 30 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
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
Adjective
These stocks are rising not because of strong execution, but due to constrained supply, Cramer explained.
—Paulina Likos, CNBC, 1 Apr. 2026
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
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
Its private sector — though constrained — has demonstrated adaptability under extreme conditions.
—Oscar De La Rosa, Boston Herald, 3 Apr. 2026
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has constrained oil supplies, driving up transportation costs for a range of industries.
—Lucia I Suarez Sang, CBS News, 31 Mar. 2026
At the same time, the government remains constrained by the conditions of its bailout agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which limits its ability to introduce subsidies.
—Mayu Saini, Sourcing Journal, 31 Mar. 2026
When authority becomes too concentrated and variation too constrained, the system loses the adaptive capacity that complex environments require.
—Lawrence Rosenberg, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
Well, for starters, in environments where space is constrained, such as industrial sites, dense urban areas, or indoor facilities, the ability to move laterally without tilting greatly reduces collision risk.
—Etiido Uko
march 30, New Atlas, 30 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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for constrained
Adjective
-
Even within a restrained palette, a strong silhouette can shift the entire room.—
Angelika Pokovba,
Martha Stewart,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Ashe is a rocket ship that can’t be reined in, and watching the restrained, comparably rational Coop try to lasso him is reliably entertaining.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The Epstein files have been a thorn in the DOJ leadership’s side for the past year, culminating in a new law that compelled the department to release all unclassified documents, videos, and photos related to Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.—
David Zimmermann,
The Washington Examiner,
3 Apr. 2026
-
On June 15, 1215, rebellious nobles compelled King John of England to sign the Magna Carta.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The board was controlled by Evers appointees when Rothman was hired.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
6 Apr. 2026
-
The painting was purchased at auction from Christie’s by International Art Center, a holding company controlled by Nahmad, in 1996 and placed in storage in Switzerland.—
News Desk,
Artforum,
6 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Her last and only boyfriend, Tim, would have been too inhibited.—
Cassandra Neyenesch,
New Yorker,
29 Mar. 2026
-
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
Verb
-
Now, as China prioritizes renewable energy over coal, Yang is ahead of the change his fellow workers are being forced to confront.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Conflicting signals have set up a week in which investors are forced to position for starkly divergent outcomes.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
And actually, the Bell Telephone Company was that way at one point, but they were regulated.—
Alex Crippen,
CNBC,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Banks are tightly regulated by laws meant to protect consumers from theft and fraud.—
Megan Cassidy,
San Francisco Chronicle,
3 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Niall is mild-mannered, repressed, and fearful of facing his sexuality.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
7 Apr. 2026
-
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
Verb
-
Then in early 2026, Banegas claimed that his attorneys coerced him into pleading guilty and wanted to change his plea.—
Steven Yablonski,
CBS News,
8 Apr. 2026
-
The lawmakers also pointed to cases in which individuals and organizations were allegedly pressured or coerced by Chinese officials or affiliated groups, including efforts to block political candidates critical of Beijing from engaging with local communities.—
Asra Q. Nomani,
FOXNews.com,
8 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Constrained.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/constrained. Accessed 10 Apr. 2026.
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