Synonyms of constrain

constrain 1 of 3

verb (1)

kən-ˈstrān 

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

Related 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

Dissimilar Words

• intractable
• contrary
• refractory
• recalcitrant
• defiant
• ungovernable
• 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
• mischievous
• pigheaded
• 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
• sank
• bottled (up)
• pocketed
• handcuffed
• muzzled
• gagged

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Synonym Chooser

How is the word constrain different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of constrain are coerce, compel, force, and oblige. While all these words mean "to make someone or something yield," constrain suggests the effect of a force or circumstance that limits freedom of action or choice.

constrained by conscience

When could coerce be used to replace constrain?

Although the words coerce and constrain have much in common, coerce suggests overcoming resistance or unwillingness by actual or threatened violence or pressure.

coerced into signing over the rights

When would compel be a good substitute for constrain?

The meanings of compel and constrain largely overlap; however, compel typically suggests overcoming of resistance or unwillingness by an irresistible force.

compelled to admit my mistake

Where would force be a reasonable alternative to constrain?

While the synonyms force and constrain are close in meaning, force is the general term and implies the overcoming of resistance by the exertion of strength, power, or duress.

forced to flee for their lives

When is oblige a more appropriate choice than constrain?

In some situations, the words oblige and constrain are roughly equivalent. However, oblige implies the constraint of necessity, law, or duty.

felt obliged to go

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of constrain

Verb

Graham, constrained by Pete Carroll’s defensive philosophy in Las Vegas last season, should enjoy greater autonomy under his new offense-minded boss, Mike McCarthy. —Mike Sando, New York Times, 27 May 2026

And the data storage devices firm is likely to add to those gains as memory hardware supplies remain constrained. —Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 27 May 2026

Adjective

When temperatures drop, gas demand climbs, and constrained pipelines that supply the region reach capacity, pushing up electric prices. —Alex Kuffner, The Providence Journal, 10 Apr. 2026

In other words, giving reasonable levers for constrained districts and kids who have a clear career pathway that doesn’t require language study. —The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 27 Mar. 2026

Verb

Analysts today describe an institution constrained by shortages of fuel and spare parts and increasingly dependent on domestic improvisation — modifying, repurposing and cannibalizing older systems to keep them operational. —Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 28 May 2026

The kitchen-sink drama follows five working-class friends — Patrick, Shiv, Rian, Oli and Conor — who grew up together in a tower block in Birmingham and are now in their thirties, finding themselves on increasingly divergent, and for most of them increasingly constrained, paths to the future. —Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 22 May 2026