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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in restrained
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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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of constrain
New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 23 Apr. 2025
Francis’s reforms were constrained to some extent if only to maintain civility between reigning pope and emeritus predecessor — a plot echoed in another film, 2019’s The Two Popes.
—Howard Chua-Eoan, Mercury News, 22 Apr. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for constrain
Verb
That means overseeing the issuance and enforcement of rules that constrain how business can affect our air, our water, our land and so on.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 23 Apr. 2025
Francis’s reforms were constrained to some extent if only to maintain civility between reigning pope and emeritus predecessor — a plot echoed in another film, 2019’s The Two Popes.
—Howard Chua-Eoan, Mercury News, 22 Apr. 2025
Verb
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
See All Example Sentences for constrain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for constrain
Adjective
-
In 2024, China's approach to U.S. tariffs remained relatively restrained.—
Kate Nalepinski,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 May 2025
-
Maybe this will be a rare case of restrained longing.—
Laura Bradley,
Vulture,
9 May 2025
Adjective
-
How about Mona manipulating her classmates’ stereotypes about repressed Muslim girls to become more popular?—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
24 Apr. 2025
-
His greatest foe was a malevolent being known as The Void, which is actually a facet of his own repressed psyche.—
Jeff Spry,
Space.com,
23 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
In this case, the board demonstrated a lack of moral and disciplined courage, leaving everyone to deal with the aftermath. Shortages of intellectual or empathetic courage impose equally ominous impacts.—
Keith D. Dorsey,
Forbes.com,
7 May 2025
-
That could be a pastor in the mold of Francis, but one who is more disciplined in his public statements, or a pope who makes up for a lack of personal charisma with a skill for steady governance.—
Jason Horowitz,
New York Times,
7 May 2025
Adjective
-
That means that with cooperation and capable decision making, orderly big progress to greatly reduce these unsustainable imbalances can be made.—
Ray Dalio,
Time,
9 May 2025
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In engineering terms, this may cause a transition from linear responses (smooth, orderly, predictable) to nonlinear responses (violent and unpredictable) which cause major changes in system behavior.—
George Calhoun,
Forbes.com,
30 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Constrain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/constrain. Accessed 18 May. 2025.
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