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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
as in restrained
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
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
Galip Dalay, Time, 19 Aug. 2025
Nissan’s use of assistance technology has been constrained by European regulations, but Tesson argues that the new Leaf will have as much new tech as possible.
—James Morris, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2025
While China has been making big strides in chip design, its supply of advanced GPUs remains constrained by existing export controls on the world’s most advanced chipmaking equipment.
—Dylan Butts, CNBC, 15 Aug. 2025
But Canada’s massive swaths of forested land, a sparse population and limited infrastructure mean the country is constrained in its ability to respond to all blazes.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 13 Aug. 2025
However, a modest decline in rates to below 6% could motivate some homeowners to sell, potentially thawing the frozen housing market constrained by homeowners holding onto low-rate mortgages.
—Sydney Lake, Fortune, 13 Aug. 2025
The only way that the uranium-lead ratio can be compatible with the hafnium in the zircons, Whitehouse argued, is if the zircons that settled in the silt had crystallized around 2.8 billion years ago, constraining the organic carbon to being no older than that.
—Howard Lee, ArsTechnica, 11 Aug. 2025
Still, Iran’s distrust of Western countries and the endurance of the regime under dire circumstances mean that even this tool will have limited efficacy in terms of constraining an intractable Iranian leadership.
—Suzanne Maloney, Foreign Affairs, 6 Aug. 2025
While inventory remains constrained, San Diego still sees consistent buyer interest.
—Soo Kim, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Aug. 2025
Christian MacEdonia, The Conversation, 3 Jan. 2025
Even constrained by the low initial altitude, the toss method helps keep Ukrainian jets outside the range of Russia’s most dangerous surface-to-air missile batteries.
—David Axe, Forbes, 2 Jan. 2025
However, adults often stop asking as much, constrained by fear of judgment, rigid workplace expectations, or prioritization of efficiency.
—Dr. Diane Hamilton, Forbes, 2 Jan. 2025
Dipping oil isn’t constrained to bread.
—Abigail Wilt, Southern Living, 30 Dec. 2024
As the problem grows worse, leaders constrained by political considerations keep eking out piecemeal solutions.
—Justin Worland, TIME, 26 Dec. 2024
These systems not only help to reduce the cost for the client and law firm, but also make legal services more accessible to those who might be resource constrained.
—Ron Schmelzer, Forbes, 26 Dec. 2024
This approach helps maximize the utility of a limited number of qubits, especially given that quantum hardware is currently constrained in scale.
—Yuval Boger, Forbes, 26 Dec. 2024
But the reality was that choices were constrained, communication was sparse and most employees opted for the same plan year after year.
—Tim Pratte, Forbes, 26 Dec. 2024
Verb
The importance of the Black Sea for Russia increased further after Finland and Sweden joined the NATO in 2023 and 2024, reinforcing the alliance’s eastern flank and constraining Russia in the Baltic.
—Galip Dalay, Time, 19 Aug. 2025
Nissan’s use of assistance technology has been constrained by European regulations, but Tesson argues that the new Leaf will have as much new tech as possible.
—James Morris, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2025
While China has been making big strides in chip design, its supply of advanced GPUs remains constrained by existing export controls on the world’s most advanced chipmaking equipment.
—Dylan Butts, CNBC, 15 Aug. 2025
But Canada’s massive swaths of forested land, a sparse population and limited infrastructure mean the country is constrained in its ability to respond to all blazes.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 13 Aug. 2025
However, a modest decline in rates to below 6% could motivate some homeowners to sell, potentially thawing the frozen housing market constrained by homeowners holding onto low-rate mortgages.
—Sydney Lake, Fortune, 13 Aug. 2025
The only way that the uranium-lead ratio can be compatible with the hafnium in the zircons, Whitehouse argued, is if the zircons that settled in the silt had crystallized around 2.8 billion years ago, constraining the organic carbon to being no older than that.
—Howard Lee, ArsTechnica, 11 Aug. 2025
Still, Iran’s distrust of Western countries and the endurance of the regime under dire circumstances mean that even this tool will have limited efficacy in terms of constraining an intractable Iranian leadership.
—Suzanne Maloney, Foreign Affairs, 6 Aug. 2025
While inventory remains constrained, San Diego still sees consistent buyer interest.
—Soo Kim, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Aug. 2025
Adjective
Unlike other fields that have large, high-quality datasets available to train AI models, such as image analysis and language processing, the AI in drug development is constrained by small, low-quality datasets.
—Christian MacEdonia, The Conversation, 3 Jan. 2025
Even constrained by the low initial altitude, the toss method helps keep Ukrainian jets outside the range of Russia’s most dangerous surface-to-air missile batteries.
—David Axe, Forbes, 2 Jan. 2025
However, adults often stop asking as much, constrained by fear of judgment, rigid workplace expectations, or prioritization of efficiency.
—Dr. Diane Hamilton, Forbes, 2 Jan. 2025
Dipping oil isn’t constrained to bread.
—Abigail Wilt, Southern Living, 30 Dec. 2024
As the problem grows worse, leaders constrained by political considerations keep eking out piecemeal solutions.
—Justin Worland, TIME, 26 Dec. 2024
These systems not only help to reduce the cost for the client and law firm, but also make legal services more accessible to those who might be resource constrained.
—Ron Schmelzer, Forbes, 26 Dec. 2024
This approach helps maximize the utility of a limited number of qubits, especially given that quantum hardware is currently constrained in scale.
—Yuval Boger, Forbes, 26 Dec. 2024
But the reality was that choices were constrained, communication was sparse and most employees opted for the same plan year after year.
—Tim Pratte, Forbes, 26 Dec. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for constrained
Adjective
-
But the whisky never strays too far from its wood-spiced core, with restrained elements of aspen, pine, birch, and cedar wood.—
David Thomas Tao,
Forbes.com,
7 Aug. 2025
-
The restrained approach, however, raised a question: Why didn’t the Cubs get another starting pitcher before Thursday’s deadline?—
Patrick Mooney,
New York Times,
1 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
The Basics of Philosophy focuses on a repressed philosophy professor (Huston) who has been grappling with lingering guilt over a decision from his past when the victim suddenly returns to his life.—
Ryan Gajewski,
HollywoodReporter,
11 Aug. 2025
-
In addition to this cabinet and council, our movement includes a network of civil society organizations, diaspora groups, independent media, education and legal services, and humanitarian aid providers that help the repressed and their families.—
SVIATLANA TSIKHANOUSKAYA,
Foreign Affairs,
8 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Also, the volatility created by policy shocks often resets valuations and creates opportunity for disciplined buyers.—
John Buckingham,
Forbes.com,
22 Aug. 2025
-
Knockouts Argentina put up a serious fight against Colombia in the first semi-final, even starting the game on the front-foot thanks to some disciplined and well-drilled work out of possession.—
Neel Shelat,
Forbes.com,
5 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
This prevents the orderly migration process the Trump administration has sought.—
Dan Gooding
Jesus Mesa,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Aug. 2025
-
In a 2022 Supreme Court brief, the Edison Electric Institute (EEI) said that having the EPA regulate climate pollution creates an orderly system for cutting emissions while minimizing economic impacts on consumers and businesses.—
Michael Copley,
NPR,
19 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Constrained.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/constrained. Accessed 29 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share