1
as in compels
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 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
Modern economies run on energy, yet the United States increasingly constrains supply through permitting delays.
—
Veronique De Rugy, Oc Register, 25 Dec. 2025
The limitation won’t be the technology itself, but the lack of public trust, which ultimately constrains the industry’s potential to improve financial health and inclusion.
—Dhruv Arora, Fortune, 24 Nov. 2025
Its outcome could define how far immigration officers may go in workplaces across the country, shaping protections for millions of Americans employed in industries with large immigrant labor forces and testing whether the Fourth Amendment meaningfully constrains interior enforcement.
—Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
Viral outrage, administrative investigations and threats to cut state or federal funding to schools can all contribute to an intensifying climate of fear of retribution that constrains educators’ ability to teach freely.
—Laura Gail Miller, The Conversation, 30 Sep. 2025
Such has been the patient sufferance of the women under this government, and such is now the necessity which constrains them to demand the equal station to which they are entitled.
—Liz Tracey, JSTOR Daily, 26 Sep. 2025
For what constrains both young men is not their actual jobs or income, but their status.
—Proma Khosla, IndieWire, 25 Sep. 2025
The Cultural Dimension Culture amplifies or constrains collaboration.
—Thomas Lim, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
The law also constrains practices that had allowed towing companies to start the sales process for some vehicles after 15 days.
—Dave Altimari, ProPublica, 9 Sep. 2025
Veronique De Rugy, Oc Register, 25 Dec. 2025
The limitation won’t be the technology itself, but the lack of public trust, which ultimately constrains the industry’s potential to improve financial health and inclusion.
—Dhruv Arora, Fortune, 24 Nov. 2025
Its outcome could define how far immigration officers may go in workplaces across the country, shaping protections for millions of Americans employed in industries with large immigrant labor forces and testing whether the Fourth Amendment meaningfully constrains interior enforcement.
—Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
Viral outrage, administrative investigations and threats to cut state or federal funding to schools can all contribute to an intensifying climate of fear of retribution that constrains educators’ ability to teach freely.
—Laura Gail Miller, The Conversation, 30 Sep. 2025
Such has been the patient sufferance of the women under this government, and such is now the necessity which constrains them to demand the equal station to which they are entitled.
—Liz Tracey, JSTOR Daily, 26 Sep. 2025
For what constrains both young men is not their actual jobs or income, but their status.
—Proma Khosla, IndieWire, 25 Sep. 2025
The Cultural Dimension Culture amplifies or constrains collaboration.
—Thomas Lim, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
The law also constrains practices that had allowed towing companies to start the sales process for some vehicles after 15 days.
—Dave Altimari, ProPublica, 9 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for constrains
Verb
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One of the most powerful yet underappreciated forces in these dynamics is social identity, the psychological force that compels people to sort themselves into groups and take those group boundaries seriously.—
Justin Angle,
The Conversation,
6 Jan. 2026
-
One scene involves Varang poisoning Quaritch with a mysterious hallucinatory drug that compels him to tell the truth about his motivations.—
Jack Smart,
PEOPLE,
20 Dec. 2025
Verb
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According to Spark Biomedical, this stimulation regulates the nervous system and influences blood flow.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
7 Jan. 2026
-
The commission regulates taxi rates, towing companies and aspects of ride-share companies, such as licensing, permits and safety requirements.—
Judith Kohler,
Denver Post,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
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WhatsApp already forces its users to upgrade their app every three months.—
Sam Knight,
New Yorker,
12 Jan. 2026
-
That depth matters in a season bisected by the FIFA World Cup, which runs June 11-July 19 and forces MLS into a seven-week hiatus.—
Colin Cerniglia,
Charlotte Observer,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Use Paint to Refresh Cracked Wood Start by cleaning the wood with hot, soapy water that contains a degreasing agent.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
The Spruce,
11 Jan. 2026
-
DeFi advocates also want to ensure the market structure bill contains language allowing individuals to self-custody their crypto.—
Liz Napolitano,
CNBC,
11 Jan. 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
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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
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The state Department of Education controls public education, under the leadership of the governor and the Legislature.—
SHELLEY SMITH SPECIAL TO THE DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE,
Arkansas Online,
10 Jan. 2026
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The situation is not all that different from that along the Mississippi, Missouri or Tennessee rivers, where a series of dams controls water flow.—
Amy Green,
Miami Herald,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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That’s not the case, though, with preferred shares—and Strategy has issued plenty of these as well, which obliges it to pay regular dividends to shareholders.—
Jeff John Roberts,
Fortune,
3 Dec. 2025
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Passion sparks when the algorithm obliges erotic fantasy on demand.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
28 Nov. 2025
Verb
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According to projections made at the December meeting, that’s only about half a percentage point from the committee consensus on the neutral rate, or one that neither supports nor restrains growth.—
Jeff Cox,
CNBC,
5 Jan. 2026
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There are also possible free speech claims if the law restrains NIL opportunities and interferes with First Amendment freedom of expression.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
9 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Constrains.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/constrains. Accessed 15 Jan. 2026.
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