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
as in restrained
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of constrain
Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 22 Mar. 2026
Wildfire risks The same forces constraining western water supplies could also set the stage for the West's wildfire season, which has lengthened over the last few decades with rising temperatures and intensifying drought.
—Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 21 Mar. 2026
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
Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 23 Mar. 2026
Hezbollah joined the war in solidarity with the Palestinian group out of conviction that Israel would be constrained in its response by concerns of Hezbollah’s offensive capabilities.
—Asher Kaufman, The Conversation, 20 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for constrain
Verb
Fear of them constrains how US warships can operate in the Gulf, potentially limiting the range and effect of US Navy air and missile strikes into Iran, Schuster said.
—Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 22 Mar. 2026
Wildfire risks The same forces constraining western water supplies could also set the stage for the West's wildfire season, which has lengthened over the last few decades with rising temperatures and intensifying drought.
—Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 21 Mar. 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
Verb
His core thesis was that the president’s formal constitutional powers are constrained, with their effectiveness reliant on their ability to bargain and persuade other key political players.
—Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 23 Mar. 2026
Hezbollah joined the war in solidarity with the Palestinian group out of conviction that Israel would be constrained in its response by concerns of Hezbollah’s offensive capabilities.
—Asher Kaufman, The Conversation, 20 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for constrain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for constrain
Adjective
-
Grace had given us this restrained performance.—
Chris Murphy,
Vanity Fair,
27 Mar. 2026
-
High ceilings, expansive windows, and a restrained neutral palette creates an atmosphere that feels instantly and effortlessly calm.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
25 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Participants who appeared engaged, responsive, and comfortable in the interaction, maintaining eye contact and seeming open rather than inhibited, were far more likely to be liked.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
18 Mar. 2026
-
Some players appeared inhibited, none more so than winger Leon Bailey.—
Jacob Tanswell,
New York Times,
22 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Tel Aviv, Israel — Undermining this moment of relief for many repressed Iranians is that killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is a perilously simple fix to a very complex problem.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN Money,
1 Mar. 2026
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And that probably comes from seeing women in my life who have been so repressed that the eyes become their only real means of communication.—
Kennedy French,
Variety,
28 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Republicans demonstrated how disciplined political branding can shape perception.—
Richard Yanowitch,
Mercury News,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Administrators told students to disperse, disciplined repeat offenders, and ended Yale’s association with a chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine.—
Rose Horowitch,
The Atlantic,
25 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Not an orderly affair, but a free-for-all.—
Scott Neuman,
NPR,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Cisco has finally reached new all-time highs, but the path higher has been gradual and orderly, not excessive.—
Frank Cappelleri,
CNBC,
25 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Cut Spending to Protect Your Portfolio When markets plunge, one of the most immediate and controllable levers is spending.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
27 Mar. 2026
-
That generation’s Turbo, however, was a clear step towards where the car was going, thanks to its addition of standard all-wheel-drive—a change that moved the Turbo from the snap-oversteer-prone monster in previous generations to a controllable, all-weather supercar-slayer.—
Will Sabel Courtney,
Robb Report,
19 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Constrain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/constrain. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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