1
as in compels
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 regulates
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 constrains
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
That deeply constrains everything that occurs in the show’s first outing, which can’t see Mike, El, Dustin, Lucas, or Max grow as characters in ways that bump up against their arcs from the original show, or let the new addition Nikki (Odessa A’zion) become too firmly entrenched in their lives.
—Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 24 Apr. 2026
But when resistance is too high, when something constrains electron flow through the mitochondria, the system backs up.
—Jasna Hodžić, Big Think, 22 Apr. 2026
This includes other priority areas along the Florida Wildlife Corridor where development constrains animal movement.
—Eve Bohnett, The Conversation, 2 Apr. 2026
Limited access constrains health care, education, digital connectivity and job creation.
—ABC News, 1 Apr. 2026
This propulsion system limits responsiveness and constrains the precision with which a drone can control its position and attitude simultaneously.
—Etiido Uko
march 30, New Atlas, 30 Mar. 2026
Inflation constrains monetary easing.
—Michael Khouw, CNBC, 30 Mar. 2026
Fear of them constrains how US warships can operate in the Gulf, potentially limiting the range and effect of US Navy air and missile strikes into Iran, Schuster said.
—Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 22 Mar. 2026
Joe Walsh, CBS News, 29 Apr. 2026
That deeply constrains everything that occurs in the show’s first outing, which can’t see Mike, El, Dustin, Lucas, or Max grow as characters in ways that bump up against their arcs from the original show, or let the new addition Nikki (Odessa A’zion) become too firmly entrenched in their lives.
—Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 24 Apr. 2026
But when resistance is too high, when something constrains electron flow through the mitochondria, the system backs up.
—Jasna Hodžić, Big Think, 22 Apr. 2026
This includes other priority areas along the Florida Wildlife Corridor where development constrains animal movement.
—Eve Bohnett, The Conversation, 2 Apr. 2026
Limited access constrains health care, education, digital connectivity and job creation.
—ABC News, 1 Apr. 2026
This propulsion system limits responsiveness and constrains the precision with which a drone can control its position and attitude simultaneously.
—Etiido Uko
march 30, New Atlas, 30 Mar. 2026
Inflation constrains monetary easing.
—Michael Khouw, CNBC, 30 Mar. 2026
Fear of them constrains how US warships can operate in the Gulf, potentially limiting the range and effect of US Navy air and missile strikes into Iran, Schuster said.
—Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 22 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for constrains
Verb
-
Yet the Gospel compels us to do just that.—
William E. Lori,
New York Daily News,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Perhaps that’s what compels me, somewhere in the middle of our lunch, to unmask.—
Zeba Blay,
SELF,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Put differently, the most efficient nanoreactor is not necessarily the one that allows reactants to enter as rapidly as possible, but rather the one that regulates access just enough to maintain steady and efficient reaction dynamics.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
3 May 2026
-
And representatives for the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, which regulates event contracts, likewise didn't respond to a request for comment.—
Contessa Brewer,
CNBC,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
Since different error correction schemes require different connections among the qubits, this forces us to commit to specific error-correction schemes during manufacturing.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
8 May 2026
-
Lomax, sensing his happiness, forces its end, depriving Stoner of this brief joy.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
8 May 2026
Verb
-
Wash the garment or table linen as recommended on the care label using a heavy-duty detergent that contains enzymes.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
3 May 2026
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This story contains mention of suicide.—
Anthony Thompson,
USA Today,
3 May 2026
Verb
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However, the rotation of this filament clearly dominates how the galaxies within it spin, perhaps by funneling hydrogen gas along the dark-matter filament and onto the galaxies in a way that coerces their spin while providing further fuel for star formation.—
Keith Cooper,
Space.com,
4 Dec. 2025
-
Haunted by the suspicious death of his ailing mother, Ali, a university professor, coerces his enigmatic gardener to execute a cold-blooded act of vengeance.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
14 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
But the key to making this work is a free-floating efficiency parameter – a dial that controls the strength of the outburst.—
Paul Sutter,
Space.com,
3 May 2026
-
To be precise, OPEC controls production volumes, while this buyers’ club would control purchase price.—
Sasha Rogelberg,
Fortune,
2 May 2026
Verb
-
Johnson obliges, gently removing the lid.—
Elise Taylor,
Vanity Fair,
1 May 2026
-
Finally, the series rests on the shoulders of the three principal players, who are just a pleasure to watch; the camera obliges by moving in close.—
Television Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
At certain points in the novel, that distance calcifies and restrains his writing.—
Taran Dugal,
New Yorker,
4 Mar. 2026
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And most of the officials agreed that the Fed’s key rate is close to a level that neither stimulates nor restrains the economy.—
Christopher Rugaber,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Constrains.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/constrains. Accessed 10 May. 2026.
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