Synonyms of constrain

constrain 1 of 3

verb (1)

1

as in to compel

to cause (a person) to give in to pressure

constrained by conscience to tell only the truth

Synonyms & Similar Words

• compel
• coerce
• force
• obligate
• oblige
• drive
• impel
• pressure
• impress
• intimidate
• make
• muscle
• press
• blackmail
• threaten
• bully
• sandbag
• dragoon
• browbeat
• blackjack
• twist one's arm
• bulldoze
• terrorize
• drag
• shame
• harass
• hector
• cow
• high-pressure
• menace
• badger
• hound

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• let
• allow
• permit
• move
• induce
• satisfy
• convince
• argue
• talk (into)
• win (over)
• persuade
• prevail (on or upon)

2

as in to regulate

to keep from exceeding a desirable degree or level (as of expression)

constrained his anger at the needless interruption

Synonyms & Similar Words

• regulate
• contain
• control
• restrain
• keep
• curb
• stifle
• measure
• suppress
• inhibit
• govern
• tame
• rule
• hold
• check
• stop
• repress
• rein (in)
• impede
• hinder
• bridle
• interrupt
• pull in
• strangle
• swallow
• obstruct
• smother
• hamper
• choke (back)
• hold back
• block
• muffle
• arrest
• squelch
• sink
• silence
• bottle (up)
• mince
• handcuff
• pocket
• muzzle
• gag

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• lose
• liberate
• loosen
• express
• loose
• unleash
• take out
• vent
• air

constrained

2 of 3

adjective

as in restrained

Synonyms & Similar Words

• restrained
• inhibited
• repressed
• disciplined
• orderly
• controllable
• curbed
• manageable
• decorous
• tame
• subordinate
• governable
• subservient
• mannerly
• servile
• trainable
• teachable
• slavish
• obsequious
• mild
• handleable
• meek
• fawning
• disciplinable
• yielding
• gentle
• tractable
• obeisant
• amiable
• agreeable
• amenable
• dutiful
• acquiescent
• surrendering
• conformable
• kowtowing
• compliant
• obliging
• obedient
• docile
• submissive
• biddable
• soft
• placable
• duteous
• law-abiding

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• intractable
• contrary
• refractory
• recalcitrant
• defiant
• ungovernable
• wilful
• rebellious
• unruly
• willful
• restive
• wayward
• noncompliant
• contumacious
• disobedient
• balky
• obstreperous
• mutinous
• unyielding
• uncontrollable
• rebel
• insubordinate
• stubborn
• obstinate
• obdurate
• untoward
• wild
• unmanageable
• resistant
• peevish
• insurgent
• dogged
• unamenable
• headstrong
• hardheaded
• mulish
• perverse
• defiant
• bad
• incompliant
• disorderly
• froward
• balky
• undisciplined
• pigheaded
• mischievous
• errant
• naughty
• self-willed
• impudent
• insolent
• nonconformist
• dissident
• rude
• disrespectful
• impolite
• misbehaving
• ill-bred
• ill-mannered

constrained

3 of 3

verb (2)

past tense of constrain

1

as in compelled

to cause (a person) to give in to pressure

constrained by conscience to tell only the truth

Synonyms & Similar Words

• compelled
• forced
• coerced
• obliged
• obligated
• pressured
• impelled
• drove
• impressed
• pressed
• intimidated
• dragooned
• muscled
• sandbagged
• blackmailed
• made
• bullied
• blackjacked
• threatened
• cowed
• hectored
• twisted one's arm
• shamed
• dragged
• browbeat
• bulldozed
• menaced
• terrorized
• badgered
• harassed
• hounded
• high-pressured

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• permitted
• allowed
• let
• moved
• induced
• convinced
• satisfied
• argued
• won (over)
• talked (into)
• persuaded
• prevailed (on or upon)

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

• controlled
• regulated
• contained
• restrained
• curbed
• kept
• measured
• stifled
• suppressed
• governed
• ruled
• inhibited
• tamed
• held
• checked
• stopped
• bridled
• pulled in
• interrupted
• reined (in)
• repressed
• hampered
• hindered
• impeded
• swallowed
• strangled
• smothered
• muffled
• held back
• obstructed
• blocked
• choked (back)
• minced
• arrested
• silenced
• squelched
• sunk
• sank
• bottled (up)
• pocketed
• handcuffed
• muzzled
• gagged

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• lost
• liberated
• loosened
• expressed
• unleashed
• aired
• took out
• loosed
• vented