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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of constrain
Joe Walsh, CBS News, 29 Apr. 2026
Tehran's attacks on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz has also severely constrained the UAE's ability to export oil, threatening the foundation of its economy.
—Spencer Kimball,emma Graham,dan Murphy, CNBC, 28 Apr. 2026
Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 25 Mar. 2026
But his brain-imaging studies suggest that, during a psychedelic trip, communication between different regions of the brain becomes far less constrained than during normal consciousness, allowing new ways of thinking to emerge.
—Clayton Dalton, New Yorker, 13 Mar. 2026
CBS News, 28 Apr. 2026
And even on a track, aboard a proper sportsbike, we’re still constrained by the machine, the environment, and, more than anything, our own skill.
—New Atlas, 25 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for constrain
Verb
Meanwhile, Europe is grappling with higher energy prices as the Iran conflict severely constrains oil exports from the Middle East.
—Joe Walsh, CBS News, 29 Apr. 2026
Tehran's attacks on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz has also severely constrained the UAE's ability to export oil, threatening the foundation of its economy.
—Spencer Kimball,emma Graham,dan Murphy, CNBC, 28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
The airline’s efforts to revive services have been held back by the closure of Qatar’s airspace, alongside the company’s heavier dependence on long-haul corridors that remain constrained.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 25 Mar. 2026
But his brain-imaging studies suggest that, during a psychedelic trip, communication between different regions of the brain becomes far less constrained than during normal consciousness, allowing new ways of thinking to emerge.
—Clayton Dalton, New Yorker, 13 Mar. 2026
Verb
International benchmark Brent Crude topped $112 a barrel Tuesday with no clear indication of an imminent resolution to the war that has severely constrained shipping traffic through the strait.
—CBS News, 28 Apr. 2026
And even on a track, aboard a proper sportsbike, we’re still constrained by the machine, the environment, and, more than anything, our own skill.
—New Atlas, 25 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for constrain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for constrain
Adjective
-
The Santa Fe burrito is a genuine pleasure—more restrained, built on a smaller scale, with green chile doing the complex, vegetal, low-burning work that other versions might leave to salsa—though, again, the tortilla serves its contents, rather than the hosannas going the other way.—
Helen Rosner,
New Yorker,
3 May 2026
-
Plus, the more restrained growth of today still comes on top of a much larger business, the Zenith CEO pointed out.—
Lily Templeton,
Footwear News,
1 May 2026
Adjective
-
School is the crucible where raw vitality encounters the collective will to impose order and control but also to bring cultural richness to lives that might otherwise remain inhibited and crude.—
Tim Parks,
The New York Review of Books,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Her last and only boyfriend, Tim, would have been too inhibited.—
Cassandra Neyenesch,
New Yorker,
29 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The film explores a teenager’s struggles in 1998 alongside his mother’s repressed trauma from the 1948 Jeju April 3 Uprising.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Fuqua’s focus is on the music, with songwriting, video production and choreography scenes, and full-length live performances tackled with staggering precision by Jaafar Jackson, who also sensitively delivers Michael’s repressed anguish in confrontational scenes with his father.—
Katie Walsh,
Twin Cities,
25 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
David Esposito has built a career defined by focus, presence, and disciplined leadership.—
William Jones,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
-
With talent and youth, Notre Dame isn’t necessarily in a terrible position, but bringing in another veteran, disciplined ballhandler alongside All-American Hidalgo make Notre Dame even stronger.—
Chantel Jennings,
New York Times,
28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The new approach avoids that cycle by guiding orderly crystal growth and enabling gradual crystallization.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Despite security’s best efforts to keep us in an orderly line, the crowd got a little…swarmy.—
Elise Taylor,
Vanity Fair,
30 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
But that’s thing about whiskey—science and controllable elements are certainly part of the process, but then there’s also the fact that nature just takes its course.—
Jonah Flicker,
Robb Report,
19 Apr. 2026
-
Health was the one controllable variable that was unambiguous.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
13 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Constrain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/constrain. Accessed 6 May. 2026.
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