Synonyms of constrains

constrains

verb

present tense third-person singular of constrain

1

as in compels

to cause (a person) to give in to pressure

constrained by conscience to tell only the truth

Synonyms & Similar Words

• compels
• forces
• coerces
• obliges
• obligates
• pressures
• drives
• impels
• impresses
• muscles
• intimidates
• presses
• makes
• blackmails
• threatens
• bullies
• sandbags
• dragoons
• shames
• twists one's arm
• bulldozes
• browbeats
• drags
• terrorizes
• blackjacks
• cows
• menaces
• high-pressures
• harasses
• hectors
• badgers
• hounds

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• allows
• permits
• lets
• argues
• induces
• satisfies
• moves
• prevails (on or upon)
• wins (over)
• talks (into)
• convinces
• persuades

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

• regulates
• contains
• controls
• restrains
• curbs
• keeps
• stifles
• inhibits
• suppresses
• governs
• measures
• tames
• rules
• holds
• checks
• reins (in)
• stops
• pulls in
• hinders
• represses
• impedes
• bridles
• interrupts
• obstructs
• swallows
• strangles
• smothers
• hampers
• muffles
• blocks
• chokes (back)
• holds back
• silences
• pockets
• squelches
• bottles (up)
• arrests
• sinks
• minces
• handcuffs
• muzzles
• gags

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• loses
• liberates
• loosens
• expresses
• unleashes
• takes out
• looses
• airs
• vents

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of constrains

There are others, however, who disagree – arguing that the harms caused by gun deaths, drug abuse and overdose, and the spread of preventable disease require regulation that constrains or prohibits completely people’s freedom to choose. — Jen Cole Wright, The Conversation, 7 Aug. 2026

The City Charter governs and constrains the power of the mayor and the City Council, and the citizens must vote to change it. — Joseph Landers, Baltimore Sun, 6 Aug. 2026

Hemp beverages reached national scale by selling outside the licensed marijuana system, the same system that taxes and constrains the legacy and social equity operators Dawson has spent years amplifying. — Javier Hasse, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026

Our region faces real and serious challenges, including gun violence, neighborhood disinvestment, growing wealth disparity, population stagnation and a fiscal burden that constrains public investment. — Andrea Sáenz, Chicago Tribune, 20 July 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