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
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
Even in this relatively constrained setting, targeting a peripheral nerve rather than the brain, significant hurdles remain.
—New Atlas, 16 Jan. 2026
Yet China’s capital and financial power is more constrained than its headline figures suggest.
—Zongyuan Zoe Liu, Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025
Going into the end of the year, consumers with constrained budgets may look to stock market gains to augment spending.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 25 Nov. 2025
While GLP-1s offer substantial health benefits to Medicaid beneficiaries, state programs are already facing constrained budgets and administrative demands.
—Annika Kim Constantino, CNBC, 7 Nov. 2025
The project pushed beyond academic theory, relying on low-power computing and low-resolution cameras to prove that AI could run efficiently even in constrained environments.
—Matt Emma, USA Today, 10 Oct. 2025
Sebastian Buckup, Time, 7 Feb. 2026
However, their real-world deployment remains constrained by slow oxygen electrochemistry at the air electrode, which leads to high overpotentials, limited power density, and rapid performance degradation.
—Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 6 Feb. 2026
But many have said that the public pledges remain too vague to gauge the program's full impact, and some experts have warned that the program is likely to be constrained by the courts.
—Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, Arkansas Online, 6 Feb. 2026
With only three people aboard at the moment, everything from routine maintenance to space research is constrained.
—Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Space.com, 6 Feb. 2026
Optical parts are also constrained, Marc Graff, Ciena's finance chief, said on the December conference call.
—Jordan Novet, CNBC, 5 Feb. 2026
Despite substantial investment, outcomes remain uneven, and access to alternatives is often constrained by income.
—Carol Platt Liebau, Hartford Courant, 5 Feb. 2026
Much of the county’s budget is also constrained by state law.
—Nora O'Neill, Charlotte Observer, 3 Feb. 2026
Right now, the market is constrained.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 31 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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
Even in this relatively constrained setting, targeting a peripheral nerve rather than the brain, significant hurdles remain.
—New Atlas, 16 Jan. 2026
Yet China’s capital and financial power is more constrained than its headline figures suggest.
—Zongyuan Zoe Liu, Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025
Going into the end of the year, consumers with constrained budgets may look to stock market gains to augment spending.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 25 Nov. 2025
While GLP-1s offer substantial health benefits to Medicaid beneficiaries, state programs are already facing constrained budgets and administrative demands.
—Annika Kim Constantino, CNBC, 7 Nov. 2025
The project pushed beyond academic theory, relying on low-power computing and low-resolution cameras to prove that AI could run efficiently even in constrained environments.
—Matt Emma, USA Today, 10 Oct. 2025
Verb
Advertisement Markets alone won’t deliver this shift, and governments, fiscally and politically constrained, cannot act alone.
—Sebastian Buckup, Time, 7 Feb. 2026
However, their real-world deployment remains constrained by slow oxygen electrochemistry at the air electrode, which leads to high overpotentials, limited power density, and rapid performance degradation.
—Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 6 Feb. 2026
But many have said that the public pledges remain too vague to gauge the program's full impact, and some experts have warned that the program is likely to be constrained by the courts.
—Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, Arkansas Online, 6 Feb. 2026
With only three people aboard at the moment, everything from routine maintenance to space research is constrained.
—Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Space.com, 6 Feb. 2026
Optical parts are also constrained, Marc Graff, Ciena's finance chief, said on the December conference call.
—Jordan Novet, CNBC, 5 Feb. 2026
Despite substantial investment, outcomes remain uneven, and access to alternatives is often constrained by income.
—Carol Platt Liebau, Hartford Courant, 5 Feb. 2026
Much of the county’s budget is also constrained by state law.
—Nora O'Neill, Charlotte Observer, 3 Feb. 2026
Right now, the market is constrained.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 31 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for constrained
Adjective
-
On the street, the Mazda3 hatchback carries itself with a restrained yet purposeful elegance.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
7 Feb. 2026
-
Arnold’s Heathcliff is much more fully developed as a character, in part due to the more restrained performances and Arnold’s highly sensory style.—
Cazzie David,
Vogue,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Vietnam was inextricably linked to a wrenching era in American history, as Blacks were being compelled to fight a war on two fronts—for equality at home and a nation’s hubris abroad.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Shein has pulled its net-zero pledge in Germany after a local watchdog group compelled the e-tail juggernaut to substantiate its claim or drop it.—
Jasmin Malik Chua,
Sourcing Journal,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
In June 2025, EOS demonstrated the destruction of a tank using a Rodeur 330 fitted with an inert warhead, controlled via FPV.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Unlike autonomous cars which operate on public roads and uncontrolled environments, agriculture occurs on private land where everything is more controlled, which minimizes regulatory hurdles and potential for accidents.—
Sabbir Rangwala,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
There are students who feel inhibited from expressing their Jewish or Zionist identity because of the atmosphere of the atmosphere of intimidation or harassment on college campuses.—
Andrew Stanton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Aug. 2025
-
Nini and Lali seemed happier without him—more relaxed, less inhibited.—
Tao Lin,
Harpers Magazine,
20 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
But without any leads nor money to return back to her comfortable life in India, Mehr is forced to work as a housemaid for these eccentric artists Mary and Percy Bysshe Shelley.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
2 Feb. 2026
-
Choreographed to perfection, yet not in a way that felt forced in the slightest, Bono and company distilled their brilliant Elevation Tour into a spellbinding three-song set that found the band performing while names of terrorist victims were shown on the big screen.—
Jim Harrington,
Mercury News,
1 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Kratom products are not regulated and have more than 50 biologically active compounds in it.—
Gary Kirkilas II,
Boston Herald,
1 Feb. 2026
-
Currently, prediction markets are regulated only by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), an agency established more than 50 years ago to oversee and prevent fraud in derivatives.—
A.J. Perez,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Walters and her lawyers had argued that repressed memories delayed the filing.—
Jazz Monroe,
Pitchfork,
27 Jan. 2026
-
The more involved Jana becomes, the more she is forced to confront her past and her repressed memories.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Russia’s Defense and Foreign Ministries have not responded to CNN’s request for comment on allegations that some recruits were misled or coerced.—
Larry Madowo,
CNN Money,
4 Feb. 2026
-
Butt maintains his innocence, claiming his confession was coerced through torture, and that evidence against him was planted, The Daily Telegraph reported.—
Efrat Lachter,
FOXNews.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Constrained.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/constrained. Accessed 9 Feb. 2026.
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