constrained 1 of 2

constrained

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verb

past tense of constrain

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
Adjective
Confining Employees To Rigid Roles As a business grows, team members with rigid, constrained scopes may stop working or supporting others outside their existing scope. — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 15 Oct. 2026 The models were being tested for hacking capabilities in an isolated testing environment with constrained network access and had their normal safety checks off as a result, according to the company. — Miranda Nazzaro, The Hill, 14 Oct. 2026 Analysts anticipate that gold prices will remain constrained in the short term by a strong US dollar and elevated US Treasury yields. — CNBC, 8 Oct. 2026 Shorter seasons, constrained budgets, fragmented audiences, an industry wary of grand and divisive political statements yet eager for high craft — all of it results in television that manages risk instead of confronting it. — Henry Metz, Rolling Stone, 11 Sep. 2026 Without competitive energy systems, industrial leadership will remain constrained regardless of innovation strength. — Can Dinçer, Fortune, 10 Sep. 2026
Verb
The International Energy Agency warned this month that diesel supplies will likely remain constrained well into 2027. — Spencer Kimball,deena Zaidi, CNBC, 21 Oct. 2026 Better decisions depend on those groups working from the same understanding of where the system is constrained and which investments will produce the greatest improvement. — Charlie Sanchez, Forbes.com, 20 Oct. 2026 Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz remains dangerous and constrained, prolonging uncertainty over oil supplies and fuel prices. — Cathy Bussewitz, Chicago Tribune, 17 Oct. 2026 If a salary cap were to be imposed, the Dodgers' spending would be constrained when play resumes. — ABC News, 16 Oct. 2026 While the resulting hydrogen can help decarbonize industries that are difficult to electrify directly, its wider adoption has been constrained by its cost compared with hydrogen produced from fossil fuels. — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 9 Oct. 2026 For the first version, the team used GPT-6 Luna without further training, constrained it to return structured answers, processed multiple questions at once and tuned the system to deliver the first decision faster. — Wen Shao, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2026 But oil revenue has been particularly constrained by theft and pipeline vandalism that has cost the country about $300 billion in recent years, compounding in a worsening security crisis that has hampered the overall economy. — Alexander Onukwue, semafor.com, 7 Oct. 2026 Beshear, a potential 2028 presidential contender, has been constrained by the DGA's commitments to first protect incumbent Democratic governors seeking reelection, though some of those incumbents are currently in strong positions. — CBS News, 5 Oct. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for constrained
Adjective
  • Her perspective—consistently serene and largely without self-interest—lends the novel a restrained and gently contemplative tone.
    — Natasha O'Neill, Vanity Fair, 22 Oct. 2026
  • The hotel interprets this mantra through balanced proportions, restrained interiors, and a hospitality approach that favors comfort over excess.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Doncic said there has always been something in him that compelled him to establish connections with fans.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026
  • From the classic ‘Whodunit’ style to thrilling neonoirs, mystery novels have compelled readers to solve cases alongside detectives like Hercule Poirot.
    — Theara Coleman, TheWeek, 19 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • And insurers controlled by former Los Angeles Lakers owner Mark Walter lent billions to companies tied to his financial empire, leading to lawsuits and an SEC investigation.
    — Joshua Hong, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Most concerning of all was Dolan’s installation of his longtime crony, Isaiah Thomas, on the board of a new corporate entity that controlled the Knicks.
    — Noah Shachtman, Vanity Fair, 20 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • First, men who receive accurate information about what other men actually believe are less inhibited about speaking out and intervening.
    — Catherine A. Sanderson, The Conversation, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Both players were so inhibited for the final game of the set that the level of play resembled something from a local park.
    — Charlie Eccleshare, New York Times, 27 May 2026
Verb
  • Earlier this fall, a deadlocked jury in the Lindsay Clancy murder case forced the judge to declare a mistrial.
    — Anja Aronowsky Cronberg, New Yorker, 24 Oct. 2026
  • CoreWeave, the biggest of the group, has seen the spread on its credit default swaps soar past 11%, as investors are forced to pay up for insurance against default.
    — Kif Leswing,Isabel O'Brien, CNBC, 24 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • At the federal level, ENDS are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, but states have the authority to restrict their sale in order to protect the health of their citizens.
    — Ana Santos Rutschman, The Conversation, 19 Oct. 2026
  • The companies are regulated on the federal level by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, or CFTC, which has historically focused on overseeing soybean futures and oil derivatives.
    — Hannah Keyser, CNN Money, 18 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • Oakley’s spin isn’t one of those gossamer period love stories about repressed emotions — those are there, yes, but the Dashwoods are actively pressing against their station at all times.
    — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Droog takes time to savor his accomplishments while also dealing with years of repressed emotions.
    — Dylan Green, Pitchfork, 8 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Her confession to murdering her 2-year-old daughter was coerced, and the district attorney who prosecuted her case was later convicted of bribery, extortion and other crimes.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Terry Kay liked to tell the story of how he was coerced into writing his first novel by Pat Conroy, who told his literary agent Kay had written a brilliant manuscript.
    — Suzanne Van Atten, AJC.com, 18 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Constrained.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/constrained. Accessed 26 Oct. 2026.

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