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
But Gregory Daco, chief economist at EY-Parthenon, expects that wage growth could come under pressure, constraining future consumer spending.
—
Sarah Min, CNBC, 29 May 2026
Taking the unprecedented step of constraining proxy advisor influence through exchange-level rules is a key part of that mission.
—James H. Lee, Fortune, 28 May 2026
In effect, Ukraine is replicating siege conditions across the wider battlefield, systematically constraining the flow of supplies to Russian forces rather than isolating a single city.
—Vikram Mittal, Forbes.com, 14 May 2026
The conflict looms large over the film’s Kosovar Albanian teens — as does institutionalized discrimination against them — but Basholli’s intentionally blinkered focus, through the eyes of her 13-year-old protagonist, proves constraining and liberating all at once.
—Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 13 May 2026
That audience members, by virtue of access to a camera, keyboard, and the Internet, can capture, compile, edit, frame, and package an event as news without any regard to journalistic ethics is liberating and constraining at the same time.
—Shepherd Mpofu, Encyclopedia Britannica, 27 Apr. 2026
The Iran war has led to a virtual stoppage in ships traversing the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, constraining the flow of global energy supplies.
—Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 22 Apr. 2026
The Edds lawsuit seeks a ruling that limits the city’s authority on the existing pavement footprint, constraining its ability to respond to future bluff movement.
—Letters To The Editor, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Apr. 2026
Together, these trends suggest that future enrollment levels will be shaped by both expanding and constraining forces.
—Aparna Soni, The Conversation, 13 Apr. 2026
Sarah Min, CNBC, 29 May 2026
Taking the unprecedented step of constraining proxy advisor influence through exchange-level rules is a key part of that mission.
—James H. Lee, Fortune, 28 May 2026
In effect, Ukraine is replicating siege conditions across the wider battlefield, systematically constraining the flow of supplies to Russian forces rather than isolating a single city.
—Vikram Mittal, Forbes.com, 14 May 2026
The conflict looms large over the film’s Kosovar Albanian teens — as does institutionalized discrimination against them — but Basholli’s intentionally blinkered focus, through the eyes of her 13-year-old protagonist, proves constraining and liberating all at once.
—Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 13 May 2026
That audience members, by virtue of access to a camera, keyboard, and the Internet, can capture, compile, edit, frame, and package an event as news without any regard to journalistic ethics is liberating and constraining at the same time.
—Shepherd Mpofu, Encyclopedia Britannica, 27 Apr. 2026
The Iran war has led to a virtual stoppage in ships traversing the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, constraining the flow of global energy supplies.
—Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 22 Apr. 2026
The Edds lawsuit seeks a ruling that limits the city’s authority on the existing pavement footprint, constraining its ability to respond to future bluff movement.
—Letters To The Editor, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Apr. 2026
Together, these trends suggest that future enrollment levels will be shaped by both expanding and constraining forces.
—Aparna Soni, The Conversation, 13 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for constraining
Verb
-
Brith had swallowed, forcing down something hard in her throat.—
Maggie O’Farrell,
Literary Hub,
2 June 2026
-
Given that, the court concluded that forcing UCAR to give up its supercomputing center was arbitrary and capricious, and thus violated the Administrative Procedures Act.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
2 June 2026
Verb
-
His reporting takes him to the headquarters of the Oklahoma Corporation Commission, the state agency tasked with regulating oil and gas.—
Katie Campbell,
ProPublica,
2 June 2026
-
As for regulating the use of AI for mental health, a few states enacted new policies last year.—
Aria Bendix,
NBC news,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
The lawsuit also claims officers choked Day and slammed him against a wall, eventually coercing him into confessing to killing Irving and Garcia.—
Todd Feurer,
CBS News,
14 May 2026
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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
Verb
-
And there’s a chance the Giants vote against Sacramento as an expansion site because the Giants want to continue controlling the market.—
Chris Biderman,
Sacbee.com,
29 May 2026
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As with minimizing soil disturbance, this, too, helps tremendously with controlling erosion, increasing the carbon content of soil and conserving moisture.—
Special to The Denver Post,
Denver Post,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
Selaocoe extends that feeling after the song ends by once again compelling the audience to join him in song.—
Sheila Regan,
Twin Cities,
22 May 2026
-
Her new perspective gazes at us directly, compelling us to meet her eye.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
4 May 2026
Verb
-
Mia Thurow This summer in Indianapolis, everyone younger than 18 will fall under an extended curfew introduced by the City-County Council aimed at curbing youth violence.—
Kristine Phillips,
IndyStar,
4 June 2026
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In it, however, Martin Bech Holte, an economist and former head of the consultancy firm McKinsey in Norway, did not suggest curbing rampant levels of inequality — recently reported to be at 1912 levels — or otherwise restore the country to some social democratic golden age.—
Ola Morris Innset,
The Dial,
2 June 2026
Verb
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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
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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
Verb
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In the center, the team placed an artificial blue flower containing a sugary solution and let the bees explore it.—
Jacopo Prisco,
CNN Money,
4 June 2026
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But despite completing initiatives to remove SSNs and other sensitive personal data from its systems, the official said Columbia inadvertently missed a legacy database containing my SSN.—
Ashley Belanger,
ArsTechnica,
4 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Constraining.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/constraining. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.
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