as in restrained
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
1
as in compelled
to cause (a person) to give in to pressure
constrained by conscience to tell only the truth
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 constrained
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
Without both, the promise of inclusive finance may well remain constrained.
—Felicia Jackson, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
From tariffs squeezing profits and constrained supply chains to lagging consumer demand for electric vehicles, automotive sales — especially among Stellantis brands — have sputtered.
—Liam Rappleye, Freep.com, 24 Aug. 2025
The system supports next-generation collaborative combat aircraft (CCA) development, enables training in constrained airspace, and generates structured datasets to objectively assess pilot readiness, according to Red 6.
—Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 24 Aug. 2025
The bartenders wore white coats like a pre-Prohibition hotel bar, but their demeanor was something like the opposite of the constrained stoicism of the bygone past.
—Jason O'Bryan, Robb Report, 9 Aug. 2025
Zachary Fine, New Yorker, 7 Nov. 2025
Oral arguments, typically constrained to an hour (allocating 30 minutes for each side), will be expanded, underscoring the gravity and complexity of the case.
—Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 5 Nov. 2025
Iranian oil discounts to China have hit a year‑high as sanctions on Iran and Russia tighten, squeezing independent refiners already constrained by import quotas, trade sources told Reuters on October 29.
—MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025
Inflatable module overcomes launch constraints Orbital platforms are typically constrained by limitations related to the launch vehicle.
—Chris Young, Interesting Engineering, 4 Nov. 2025
Apple delivered a great September quarter Thursday evening, even as iPhone supply was constrained by strong demand.
—Zev Fima, CNBC, 31 Oct. 2025
What’s more, Microsoft will remain capacity constrained for the remainder of the fiscal year, Hood said.
—Andrew Nusca, Fortune, 30 Oct. 2025
Historians like Birgit Tremml-Werner point out how the Empresa was actually embedded in — and constrained by — wider patterns of trade, diplomacy, and missionary activity.
—Big Think, 29 Oct. 2025
No American president in memory has been less constrained by existing policy or more willing to change tack.
—Richard Fontaine, Foreign Affairs, 27 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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
Without both, the promise of inclusive finance may well remain constrained.
—Felicia Jackson, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
From tariffs squeezing profits and constrained supply chains to lagging consumer demand for electric vehicles, automotive sales — especially among Stellantis brands — have sputtered.
—Liam Rappleye, Freep.com, 24 Aug. 2025
The system supports next-generation collaborative combat aircraft (CCA) development, enables training in constrained airspace, and generates structured datasets to objectively assess pilot readiness, according to Red 6.
—Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 24 Aug. 2025
The bartenders wore white coats like a pre-Prohibition hotel bar, but their demeanor was something like the opposite of the constrained stoicism of the bygone past.
—Jason O'Bryan, Robb Report, 9 Aug. 2025
Verb
The piece required the entire radius of Hsieh’s life to be constrained by the clock.
—Zachary Fine, New Yorker, 7 Nov. 2025
Oral arguments, typically constrained to an hour (allocating 30 minutes for each side), will be expanded, underscoring the gravity and complexity of the case.
—Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 5 Nov. 2025
Iranian oil discounts to China have hit a year‑high as sanctions on Iran and Russia tighten, squeezing independent refiners already constrained by import quotas, trade sources told Reuters on October 29.
—MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025
Inflatable module overcomes launch constraints Orbital platforms are typically constrained by limitations related to the launch vehicle.
—Chris Young, Interesting Engineering, 4 Nov. 2025
Apple delivered a great September quarter Thursday evening, even as iPhone supply was constrained by strong demand.
—Zev Fima, CNBC, 31 Oct. 2025
What’s more, Microsoft will remain capacity constrained for the remainder of the fiscal year, Hood said.
—Andrew Nusca, Fortune, 30 Oct. 2025
Historians like Birgit Tremml-Werner point out how the Empresa was actually embedded in — and constrained by — wider patterns of trade, diplomacy, and missionary activity.
—Big Think, 29 Oct. 2025
No American president in memory has been less constrained by existing policy or more willing to change tack.
—Richard Fontaine, Foreign Affairs, 27 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for constrained
Adjective
-
Flanagan stars as Betty, a proud but emotionally restrained mother struggling with her daughter’s return, while Crowley plays Áine’s father Seamus.—
Alex Ritman,
Variety,
2 Jan. 2026
-
The year 2025 saw high levels of deadly violence around the world, as conflicts grew less restrained, with civilians increasingly victims of attacks by governments and non-state actors alike, according to monitoring data.—
Susannah George,
Washington Post,
1 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Given rising trade tensions and the likely unsustainable strength in the export sector, Beijing might eventually be compelled to ramp up its policy measures significantly.—
Evelyn Cheng,
CNBC,
9 Jan. 2026
-
You might be compelled to flirt with the visible lingerie trend or pair a new faux fur coat with tall Uggs.—
Maressa Brown,
InStyle,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Through the integration with Tactical Assault Kit software, the team remotely controlled multiple unmanned ground and surface units across a large, 50-square-mile operational area.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Nov. 2025
-
Staff shortages have led to flow control programs to keep flights safe in other areas, too, like the airspace controlled by Jacksonville Center.—
David Ferrara,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
9 Nov. 2025
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
-
She and other members of both houses and both parties were evacuated for their safety for several hours as rioters forced their way into the Capitol that day.—
David Staats,
Idaho Statesman,
7 Jan. 2026
-
The township, which has raised the possibility it'll be forced into bankruptcy, said its insurer went out of business before the claim arose.—
Laura A. Bischoff,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
There’s a kind of social contract under which utilities operate essentially as monopolies to provide a public service and in exchange are regulated.—
Judith Kohler,
Denver Post,
7 Jan. 2026
-
The devices measure pollutants regulated by the EPA, including nitrogen oxides, ozone and particulate matter from sources like gas turbines, factories and heavy traffic.—
Jack Armstrong,
Memphis Commercial Appeal,
6 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The more involved Jana becomes, the more she is forced to confront her past and her repressed memories.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
8 Jan. 2026
-
To me, Betsy is a repressed housewife who is trying to make it as a musician.—
Brett Milano,
Boston Herald,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
He was coerced into opening a black safe that contained about $400 in cash, and a gold necklace, gold bracelet and gold ring were taken off his body.—
Sofia Saric,
Miami Herald,
30 Dec. 2025
-
However, both Maher and his third wife Heidi have since claimed that Maher's confession was coerced.—
Lynsey Eidell,
PEOPLE,
18 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Constrained.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/constrained. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share