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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of constrains
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
Diesel prices are rising as the war in the Middle East constrains the world's oil supply and drives up prices of Brent crude, the international benchmark, above $100 a barrel.
—CBS News, 17 Mar. 2026
This vigilance becomes automatic, a psychological mask that protects but also constrains.
—Rabbi Bruce D. Forman, Sun Sentinel, 17 Feb. 2026
No equivalent mechanism constrains the Federal Reserve.
—Dave Birnbaum, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
In this domain, AI agents have the potential to alleviate an increasingly acute shortage of engineering talent that constrains product development, customization, and innovation.
—Paul Eremenko, Fortune, 14 Jan. 2026
Modern economies run on energy, yet the United States increasingly constrains supply through permitting delays.
—Veronique De Rugy, Oc Register, 25 Dec. 2025
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
Diesel prices are rising as the war in the Middle East constrains the world's oil supply and drives up prices of Brent crude, the international benchmark, above $100 a barrel.
—CBS News, 17 Mar. 2026
This vigilance becomes automatic, a psychological mask that protects but also constrains.
—Rabbi Bruce D. Forman, Sun Sentinel, 17 Feb. 2026
No equivalent mechanism constrains the Federal Reserve.
—Dave Birnbaum, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
In this domain, AI agents have the potential to alleviate an increasingly acute shortage of engineering talent that constrains product development, customization, and innovation.
—Paul Eremenko, Fortune, 14 Jan. 2026
Modern economies run on energy, yet the United States increasingly constrains supply through permitting delays.
—Veronique De Rugy, Oc Register, 25 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for constrains
Verb
-
The New York Times is seeking a new order that compels Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth‘s team to rescind a set of press access restrictions that a federal judge ruled unconstitutional last week.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
24 Mar. 2026
-
Even so, each glimpse of what lies beyond Earth compels us to search farther.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Under Oregon law, the Oregon State Lottery, which regulates sports betting in the state, is not supposed to let DraftKings offer iGaming.—
Dan Bernstein,
Sportico.com,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Type 1 diabetes is a chronic autoimmune condition in which the body doesn’t produce enough insulin, a hormone produced in the pancreas that regulates blood sugar.—
Madison Dapcevich,
Outside,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Christopher McVey was sent off late against Real Salt Lake after a second yellow card, which rules him out for Saturday and forces a lineup shuffle.—
Eddie Brown,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Freshman Hannah Wells get the start for Texas and forces three quick groundouts.—
Thomas Jones,
Austin American Statesman,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Neither collection of documents contains a smoking gun.—
Ronan Farrow,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
-
At this stage, the chicks are fed small bites of fish or other prey, and the parents’ saliva, which contains electrolytes and antibodies, helps give the eaglets a healthy start.—
Shafiq Najib,
ABC News,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
In the works for more than two years, a proposal to erect a striking, $256 million waterfront museum that honors the United States Navy’s maritime special operations force will soon go before the government body that controls the site.—
Jennifer Van Grove,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
5 Apr. 2026
-
The beneficiaries of tax giveaways vary depending on who controls the White House and Congress.—
Wayne Winegarden,
Oc Register,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The 2026 Ram 1500 definitely obliges in that comfort.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
31 Mar. 2026
-
The terms of the deal between property owners and the government obliges these landlords to keep rents affordable for their occupants for decades, generally restricting rent to about 30% of tenants’ income.—
Brian Y. An,
The Conversation,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
At certain points in the novel, that distance calcifies and restrains his writing.—
Taran Dugal,
New Yorker,
4 Mar. 2026
-
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 6 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
