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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of constrains
That measurement gap directly constrains capital.
—
Jamil Wyne, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026
The fact that Starlink PNT is limited to communication with a single satellite at a time also constrains performance, whereas receiving multiple satellite measurement signals from many different angles could improve its accuracy.
—Andrew Cunningham, ArsTechnica, 11 May 2026
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
Inflation constrains monetary easing.
—Michael Khouw, CNBC, 30 Mar. 2026
Jamil Wyne, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026
The fact that Starlink PNT is limited to communication with a single satellite at a time also constrains performance, whereas receiving multiple satellite measurement signals from many different angles could improve its accuracy.
—Andrew Cunningham, ArsTechnica, 11 May 2026
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
Inflation constrains monetary easing.
—Michael Khouw, CNBC, 30 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for constrains
Verb
-
Richard Dreyfuss stars as an Indiana electric lineman/dad who gets discombobulated after a light from a passing UFO compels him to do weirdo things — like build a mountain replica inside of his home.—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
8 June 2026
-
Finding a way to do that, to have in-person contact with others to help them, literally compels her out of bed in the morning.—
Lisa Deaderick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 June 2026
Verb
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However, some people with diabetes also have kidney disease, which can affect how the body regulates potassium.—
Brianna Tobritzhofer,
Health,
4 June 2026
-
The commission regulates prediction markets like Kalshi.—
Amethyst Martinez,
USA Today,
3 June 2026
Verb
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The space vacated down the right wing is attacked by Cunha, who forces Mathias Villasanti deeper, creating a bigger area for Guimaraes to receive the ball into.—
Ahmed Walid,
New York Times,
5 June 2026
-
This forces doctors to rely largely on supportive care for people in advanced stages of disease.—
Elie Dolgin,
IEEE Spectrum,
4 June 2026
Verb
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Located in the bustling Chinese city of Hangzhou, the Prism contains 43,000 sq m (almost 463,000 sq ft) of floorspace, which is divided between hotel accommodation, residential units, offices, and retail space.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
7 June 2026
-
The novel contains riveting dialogue, words that dance around what cannot be said.—
The Know,
Denver Post,
7 June 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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Moscow also controls a significant portion of Armenia’s energy and infrastructure and supplies it with cheap gas, which is a point that Putin has been quick to drive home in his meetings with Pashinyan.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
7 June 2026
-
The parasympathetic nervous system is the part of your autonomic nervous system that controls involuntary bodily functions.—
Mélanie Defouilloy,
Vogue,
6 June 2026
Verb
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The court replaced it with a read-in version that obliges parliament to refer a panel’s findings to the impeachment committee, which is responsible for conducting a full inquiry into the hearing evidence, determining whether grounds exist to remove a sitting president.—
Tiisetso Motsoeneng,
semafor.com,
8 May 2026
-
Johnson obliges, gently removing the lid.—
Elise Taylor,
Vanity Fair,
1 May 2026
Verb
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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 9 Jun. 2026.
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