1
as in forcing
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 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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of constraining
Declining immigration is constraining labor supply, higher productivity is suppressing labor demand, business activity captured by our Texas Business Outlook Surveys recently moderated, and geopolitical uncertainty is elevated.
—
Matthew Ablon, CBS News, 6 Apr. 2026
The peace deal should include restrictions on Iran nuclear capabilities and reopening the global trade artery of the Strait of Hormuz, in exchange for lifting all economic sanctions constraining Iran.
—Leila Gharagozlou, CNN Money, 3 Apr. 2026
The war is constraining oil exports and prompting major producers like Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Iraq to scale back output as shipments face growing obstacles.
—Arkansas Online, 15 Mar. 2026
The war is constraining oil exports and prompting major producers like Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Iraq to scale back output as shipments face growing obstacles.
—Rio Yamat, Chicago Tribune, 14 Mar. 2026
As for why the Legislature hasn’t done more to stem the flow of money into the system, Bakken said that constraining donors too greatly could push them to divert cash from campaign donations into commercials and mailers in support of candidates, something candidates legally can’t control.
—Rob Davis, ProPublica, 13 Mar. 2026
The final remaining treaty constraining the two largest of them, belonging to America and Russia, expired last month without being replaced.
—Ross Andersen, The Atlantic, 11 Mar. 2026
Workforce shortages are constraining growth in our region.
—Jeffrey Ball, Oc Register, 2 Mar. 2026
The Baltimore region has suffered too long from underinvestment in transit services — which is shackling economic growth, harming the environment and constraining quality of life for families.
—Brandon Scott, Baltimore Sun, 25 Feb. 2026
Matthew Ablon, CBS News, 6 Apr. 2026
The peace deal should include restrictions on Iran nuclear capabilities and reopening the global trade artery of the Strait of Hormuz, in exchange for lifting all economic sanctions constraining Iran.
—Leila Gharagozlou, CNN Money, 3 Apr. 2026
The war is constraining oil exports and prompting major producers like Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Iraq to scale back output as shipments face growing obstacles.
—Arkansas Online, 15 Mar. 2026
The war is constraining oil exports and prompting major producers like Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Iraq to scale back output as shipments face growing obstacles.
—Rio Yamat, Chicago Tribune, 14 Mar. 2026
As for why the Legislature hasn’t done more to stem the flow of money into the system, Bakken said that constraining donors too greatly could push them to divert cash from campaign donations into commercials and mailers in support of candidates, something candidates legally can’t control.
—Rob Davis, ProPublica, 13 Mar. 2026
The final remaining treaty constraining the two largest of them, belonging to America and Russia, expired last month without being replaced.
—Ross Andersen, The Atlantic, 11 Mar. 2026
Workforce shortages are constraining growth in our region.
—Jeffrey Ball, Oc Register, 2 Mar. 2026
The Baltimore region has suffered too long from underinvestment in transit services — which is shackling economic growth, harming the environment and constraining quality of life for families.
—Brandon Scott, Baltimore Sun, 25 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for constraining
Verb
-
In Grand Prairie in 2020, a natural gas leak ignited under a roadway, resulting in a fireball and forcing nearby evacuations.—
Lexi Salazar,
CBS News,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Higher oil prices are straining import-dependent economies, while currency volatility is forcing some central banks to intervene more actively in foreign exchange markets, said market watchers.—
Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Trigger-point injections reverse the hyper-irritability of nerves by inhibiting the influx of neurochemicals and re-regulating the function of various nerves.—
Dr. Patricia Richard,
Hartford Courant,
14 Apr. 2026
-
Why a Balanced Diet Matters on GLP-1s GLP-1 drugs work by mimicking a hormone in the body that helps with weight loss by reducing appetite and regulating blood sugar.—
Merve Ceylan,
Health,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Prior to his 2011 conviction, Jeffs was charged and convicted of being an accomplice to rape in September 2007 after coercing a 14-year-old to marry her 19-year-old cousin, though the ruling was later overturned by the Utah Supreme Court over faulty jury instructions, according to CBS News.—
Nicole Briese,
PEOPLE,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Indonesia responded the following day by coercing the UDT and APODETI, among others, into issuing and signing the Balibo Declaration, which proclaimed the integration of East Timor into Indonesia.—
Agathe Demarolle,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Ainsley Zibrida netted a hat trick and dished four assists, while Reese Jefferson scored four goals and dished an assist while controlling two draws as Dighton-Rehoboth (4-1) defeated Greater New Bedford 16-1 in the South Coast Conference.—
Tyler McManus,
Boston Herald,
18 Apr. 2026
-
By controlling growth in this manner, the researchers produced high-quality nickel oxide films with specific electronic properties, as reported by CGTN.—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
On March 17, the House Oversight Committee issued a subpoena to Bondi, compelling her to sit for a deposition about the DOJ's handling of the Epstein files on April 14.—
Dan Mangan,
CNBC,
2 Apr. 2026
-
The Justice Department initially said that its release, made in response to a law passed by Congress compelling the agency to disclose nearly all files related to Epstein, comprised more than 3 million pages.—
Elliott Ramos,
CBS News,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Advertisement Several countries around the world, including Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore, have introduced various restrictions aimed at curbing children’s use of social media.—
Miranda Jeyaretnam,
Time,
16 Apr. 2026
-
The rebuke came after Akazawa said during a Sunday TV appearance that correcting the weak yen through monetary policy was among the options for curbing rising import prices.—
Yoshiaki Nohara,
Bloomberg,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The unions argue that carrying out permanent layoffs during a funding lapse violates the Antideficiency Act, which bars agencies from obligating funds without congressional authorization, and exceeds executive authority under the Administrative Procedure Act.—
Robert Alexander,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Oct. 2025
-
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
Verb
-
At the time of the incident, the victim was carrying a bag containing the three gold chains and multiple diamond watches valued at a total of $85,000.—
Peter D'Oench,
CBS News,
16 Apr. 2026
-
The old flag, which depicted the old state seal on a blue field, had been criticized for years for a cluttered, undistinguished design and for containing colonial imagery and depicting racist stereotypes.—
Matthew Stolle,
Twin Cities,
16 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Constraining.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/constraining. Accessed 19 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
