1
as in forcing
to cause (a person) to give in to pressure
constrained by conscience to tell only the truth
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in regulating
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 constraining
Such caveats underscore the weakness of compliance monitoring snapshots in capturing the complex pressures and administrative barriers constraining workers’ ability to exercise their rights on a day-to-day basis.
—
Sourcing Journal, 15 Oct. 2025
With Rafael Devers' contract no longer financially constraining the team, the money is there if the Red Sox want to keep Bregman around.
—Aaliyan Mohammed, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
Mental health isn't about identity and constraining you.
—Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 24 Sep. 2025
The result is a labor supply shock that economists say is constraining hiring, piling on pressure even as demand softens simultaneously.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 17 Sep. 2025
The general idea is that, if and when a stock breaks out from its typical range, the move could be extraordinary if that range had been constraining the stock for a long time.
—Josh Brown,sean Russo, CNBC, 15 Sep. 2025
The Live Local Act, a Florida state law in effect since July 2023, was intended to generate more rental housing by incentivizing developers and constraining the ability of municipalities to restrict height and density of qualifying affordable developments.
—Jeffrey Steele, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Methodical science could perhaps be accused of constraining our collective imagination.
—David W. Brown, New Yorker, 13 Sep. 2025
There is no collective leadership constraining the Kremlin.
—Celeste A. Wallander, Foreign Affairs, 9 Sep. 2025
Sourcing Journal, 15 Oct. 2025
With Rafael Devers' contract no longer financially constraining the team, the money is there if the Red Sox want to keep Bregman around.
—Aaliyan Mohammed, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
Mental health isn't about identity and constraining you.
—Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 24 Sep. 2025
The result is a labor supply shock that economists say is constraining hiring, piling on pressure even as demand softens simultaneously.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 17 Sep. 2025
The general idea is that, if and when a stock breaks out from its typical range, the move could be extraordinary if that range had been constraining the stock for a long time.
—Josh Brown,sean Russo, CNBC, 15 Sep. 2025
The Live Local Act, a Florida state law in effect since July 2023, was intended to generate more rental housing by incentivizing developers and constraining the ability of municipalities to restrict height and density of qualifying affordable developments.
—Jeffrey Steele, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Methodical science could perhaps be accused of constraining our collective imagination.
—David W. Brown, New Yorker, 13 Sep. 2025
There is no collective leadership constraining the Kremlin.
—Celeste A. Wallander, Foreign Affairs, 9 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for constraining
Verb
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That is an unlikely combination because, in general, teams that score so much on offense have the lead, forcing teams into passing situations to keep pace.—
Mike Sando,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
-
Gas from Tehran fuels nearly a third of Iraq's electricity generation, yet frequent and prolonged outages remain common, forcing residents to rely on costly, polluting private generators.—
Emma Graham,
CNBC,
15 Oct. 2025
Verb
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An airport spokesperson cited county policy regulating airport communications in saying the video wouldn’t be seen at MIA.—
Douglas Hanks,
Miami Herald,
15 Oct. 2025
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At a minimum, this means more states following Utah and California to pass laws regulating the technology, and police departments following the best practices recommended by the technology companies.—
Andrew Guthrie Ferguson,
The Conversation,
15 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The United States began seizing church property and imprisoning polygamist leaders, coercing church president Wilford Woodruff to end official support for polygamy in 1890.—
Konden Smith Hansen,
The Conversation,
30 Sep. 2025
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Other charges dismissed as part of an April plea agreement included two counts of persuading or coercing a minor to engage in prostitution.—
Nick Ferraro,
Twin Cities,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
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By controlling the pressure inside the robot’s body and the temperature of the actuators, the researchers were able to steer it through intricate paths.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
16 Oct. 2025
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The deal includes an option to build to a controlling stake in 2028.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Even prior to Preservé’s arrival, the Motiva implants had begun fueling a shift in the way some surgeons perform breast augmentation, compelling them to more frequently place implants on top of the chest muscle instead of underneath it, as has been customary for decades.—
Jolene Edgar,
Allure,
15 Oct. 2025
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And yet, today, a few pieces of evidence are compelling us to reconsider this scenario.—
Ethan Siegel,
Big Think,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Wingtech is already on a US blacklist amid broader pressure aimed at curbing Beijing’s tech advances.—
Ben Smith,
semafor.com,
14 Oct. 2025
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China's official gauge for manufacturing activity showed a smaller-than-expected contraction in September as Beijing intensified its efforts aimed at curbing industrial overcapacity amid sluggish domestic demand and global trade disruptions.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
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This document, signed by a sponsor, is a legally enforceable contract obligating the sponsor to support the immigrant and prevent them from relying on public aid.—
Daniel Shoer Roth,
Miami Herald,
12 Sep. 2025
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The following year, legislation was passed formally designating these problems as matters of national concern and obligating local governments to implement countermeasures.—
Gil Press,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
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By comparing two types of borosilicate glass, one containing magnesium and one without, the team discovered that the diffusion of boron atoms depends strongly on the glass composition and the time it has been exposed to water.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
16 Oct. 2025
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And then the English joined in, claiming that Joseph of Arimathea brought the holy grail containing the blood and sweat of the crucified Christ to Glastonbury.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
16 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Constraining.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/constraining. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.
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