1
as in restraint
the checking of one's true feelings and impulses when dealing with others
in civilized society people do not just say or do whatever they feel like—they exercise some constraint
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in restriction
something that limits one's freedom of action or choice
put legal constraints on the board's activities
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in pressure
the use of power to impose one's will on another
parental constraint can take several different forms, including a denial of the approval that children usually seek from their parents
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of constraint
Observers have also blamed the government for Transnet’s operational failures, arguing that the company is trapped by structural constraints that management alone cannot resolve.
—
Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 16 Mar. 2026
Turning points that became businesses For all three, passion hardened into commitment in stages, each step built out of earlier constraints.
—J.m. Banks
march 16, Kansas City Star, 16 Mar. 2026
Last week, the airport reported long lines due to staffing constraints.
—Amanda Musa, CNN Money, 16 Mar. 2026
Its 2025 conference convened more than 1,000 women, demonstrating clearly that talent is not the constraint.
—Ed Gaskin, Boston Herald, 15 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for constraint
Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 16 Mar. 2026
Turning points that became businesses For all three, passion hardened into commitment in stages, each step built out of earlier constraints.
—J.m. Banks
march 16, Kansas City Star, 16 Mar. 2026
Last week, the airport reported long lines due to staffing constraints.
—Amanda Musa, CNN Money, 16 Mar. 2026
Its 2025 conference convened more than 1,000 women, demonstrating clearly that talent is not the constraint.
—Ed Gaskin, Boston Herald, 15 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for constraint
Recent Examples of Synonyms for constraint
Noun
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Because college football players can’t unionize and bargain rules, anti-tampering and other prohibitions aren’t exempt from antitrust scrutiny and can be challenged as unreasonable restraints on trade and price-fixing schemes.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
12 Mar. 2026
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Heller notes that restraint matters too—excessive throw pillows can make a primary bedroom feel fussy.—
Jacorey Moon,
Architectural Digest,
12 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Adam Schwartz, privacy litigation director with the Electronic Frontier Foundation, said California lawmakers created the restrictions to ensure stronger safeguards over how the data is used.—
Nina Burns,
CBS News,
17 Mar. 2026
-
Southern towns roll out alcohol bans and new restrictions.—
,
FOXNews.com,
16 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Weak onshore flows will then return Saturday, which combined with a weakening high pressure system are expected to bring five to 10 degrees of cooling to the coasts and valleys but little change across interior sections, according to the weather service.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Mar. 2026
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Iran may have positioned the Houthis as a regional player that can exert pressure on Iran’s neighbors, but the Houthis have always put their own interests first.—
Sudarsan Raghavan,
New Yorker,
12 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Profar also intended to ask the MLBPA to file a grievance to appeal any discipline earlier this month.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
17 Mar. 2026
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The deal offers Tesla owners 50% off every mile driven using Full Self-Driving technology and does not sacrifice underwriting discipline.—
Lisa Kailai Han,
CNBC,
17 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Easing installation hurdles While OpenClaw has surged in popularity recently, experts have previously pointed out limitations to the AI agent's mass adoption, including a complex installation process that's challenging for nontechnical users.—
Evelyn Cheng,Dylan Butts,
CNBC,
12 Mar. 2026
-
There may be limitations, though.—
Lila Seidman,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Mar. 2026
Noun
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For Madison, religion could flourish only under conditions of freedom, not compulsion.—
Corey D. B. Walker,
The Conversation,
9 Mar. 2026
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Run with a creative compulsion as Venus and Uranus harmonize!—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
4 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
How to change things The level of political repression in this state has reached unprecedented levels.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
14 Mar. 2026
-
January's wave of protests in Iran was sparked by economic discontent and eventually widened to encompass more generalized fury over the regime's system of repression.—
NBC News,
NBC news,
13 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Metallica plays on the stereo while Garcia and Huerta operate like two rock stars with no inhibitions in the kitchen.—
Jenn Harris,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Mar. 2026
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The blow keeps you awake and the alcohol lowers your inhibitions.—
Mekishana Pierre,
Entertainment Weekly,
4 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Constraint.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/constraint. Accessed 18 Mar. 2026.
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