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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of constrained
Katie Tarasov, CNBC, 17 Feb. 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
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
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
Bill McKibben, New Yorker, 20 Feb. 2026
While the arrest only concerns allegations regarding his time in public office and not any accusations from alleged victims, the investigation into him is reportedly more wide-ranging and not constrained to only what led to him being detained Thursday.
—Jared Gans, The Hill, 20 Feb. 2026
Sanctions have constrained Iranian oil sales in recent years.
—Max Zahn, ABC News, 19 Feb. 2026
Manuel, Alexander, and Barker are given extensive space to contextualize their actions, explain their discomfort with certain challenges, and frame their participation in those scenes as constrained by a business model that was bigger than them… but supposedly, not bigger than Banks.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 19 Feb. 2026
And at the same time, you’re constrained by rules of decorum and things like that.
—Shirley Halperin, Rolling Stone, 17 Feb. 2026
Where analysts differ is on what those changes ultimately represent — whether a pragmatic path toward recovery, an incomplete liberalization constrained by PDVSA’s institutional decay, or a historic surrender of oil sovereignty under foreign oversight.
—Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 17 Feb. 2026
Because bots aren’t constrained in the way humans are, a programmer might have several sessions running simultaneously, all working on different aspects of a project.
—Lila Shroff, The Atlantic, 17 Feb. 2026
Ironically, the only places where developers are somewhat constrained are designated historic districts.
—Roberta Brandes Gratz, New York Daily News, 15 Feb. 2026
Adjective
Meta also develops in-house silicon processors and utilizes chips from AMD, which won a notable deal with OpenAI in October as AI giants seek a second source to Nvidia amid constrained supply.
—Katie Tarasov, CNBC, 17 Feb. 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
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
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
But, for the next thirty-five years or so, the fact that fossil fuel was relatively cheap and clean energy was relatively expensive constrained the debate.
—Bill McKibben, New Yorker, 20 Feb. 2026
While the arrest only concerns allegations regarding his time in public office and not any accusations from alleged victims, the investigation into him is reportedly more wide-ranging and not constrained to only what led to him being detained Thursday.
—Jared Gans, The Hill, 20 Feb. 2026
Sanctions have constrained Iranian oil sales in recent years.
—Max Zahn, ABC News, 19 Feb. 2026
Manuel, Alexander, and Barker are given extensive space to contextualize their actions, explain their discomfort with certain challenges, and frame their participation in those scenes as constrained by a business model that was bigger than them… but supposedly, not bigger than Banks.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 19 Feb. 2026
And at the same time, you’re constrained by rules of decorum and things like that.
—Shirley Halperin, Rolling Stone, 17 Feb. 2026
Where analysts differ is on what those changes ultimately represent — whether a pragmatic path toward recovery, an incomplete liberalization constrained by PDVSA’s institutional decay, or a historic surrender of oil sovereignty under foreign oversight.
—Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 17 Feb. 2026
Because bots aren’t constrained in the way humans are, a programmer might have several sessions running simultaneously, all working on different aspects of a project.
—Lila Shroff, The Atlantic, 17 Feb. 2026
Ironically, the only places where developers are somewhat constrained are designated historic districts.
—Roberta Brandes Gratz, New York Daily News, 15 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for constrained
Adjective
-
So far, the looks have featured modern takes on retro looks, eye-catching juxtapositions, and impactful yet restrained looks.—
Kara Jillian Brown,
InStyle,
19 Feb. 2026
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The script here is too stiffly restrained to a fault to make much of an emotional impact, even as spending time with these actors historically is never without pleasures.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
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But a coroner can’t do that unilaterally, the NSW Coroner’s Court told CNN –– an inquest needs to be requested by police or a party with new evidence or compelled by the Supreme Court or the attorney general.—
Hilary Whiteman,
CNN Money,
28 Feb. 2026
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The appearance in New York marks the first time a former president has been compelled to testify before Congress under a subpoena.—
Maegan Vazquez,
Washington Post,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Several Tijuana stores, including supermarkets and pharmacies, closed early on Sunday after fires erupted in at least five local businesses, which the Tijuana Fire Department quickly controlled.—
Alexandra Mendoza,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
24 Feb. 2026
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The humanoid is also seen performing controlled forward slips before smoothly getting back on its feet with movements that closely resemble human motion.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
23 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Some players appeared inhibited, none more so than winger Leon Bailey.—
Jacob Tanswell,
New York Times,
22 Feb. 2026
-
Callie hangs out with her more inhibited best friend, Minnie Dunn, played spectacularly well by Katherine Mallen Kupferer.—
Baz Bamigboye,
Deadline,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The California case has drawn comparisons to the lawsuits brought against Big Tobacco in the 1990s, which forced a national reckoning over the harms of smoking.—
semafor.com,
semafor.com,
23 Feb. 2026
-
The Olympics appear to be the merciful conclusion of an adductor muscle injury from last season’s 4 Nations Face-Off that cost him the rest of the regular season last year and forced him to play hurt during the playoffs.—
Chris Kudialis,
Miami Herald,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
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And because the term is regulated by the Food and Drug Administration it can’t legally be referred to as milk chocolate.—
Corky Siemaszko,
NBC news,
21 Feb. 2026
-
The finding allowed those greenhouse gases to be regulated under the Clean Air Act, setting the stage for regulations on emissions from vehicles, power plants and the oil and gas sector.—
Madeline Heim,
jsonline.com,
20 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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By this time, both Ono and Lennon had found a form of relief in primal scream therapy, the psychological methodology that purports to relieve repressed pain through its intense expression.—
Sadie Sartini Garner,
Pitchfork,
21 Feb. 2026
-
Bigger film roles quickly followed, including that of the repressed, by-the-book Maj.—
Christopher Watson,
ABC News,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
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While titles are not yet being disclosed, the first series is set in a ruthless fashion empire where a desperate young designer is coerced by her stepmother into spying on a notorious playboy CEO.—
Diana Lodderhose,
Deadline,
25 Feb. 2026
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Over the years, the gaming platform has been at the center of several lawsuits, including one filed last year where a California woman alleged that her teenage son was groomed and coerced to send explicit images on Roblox and Discord.—
Minyvonne Burke,
NBC news,
20 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Constrained.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/constrained. Accessed 1 Mar. 2026.
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