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
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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
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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
The funding commitment will last two fiscal cycles unless the city’s budgetary constraints are relieved, Hallman added.
—
Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Sep. 2025
Brands and manufacturers must navigate shifting consumer demand, volatile geopolitical conditions, and increasing trade barriers including tariffs and complex international sourcing constraints.
—Sj Studio, Sourcing Journal, 4 Sep. 2025
Water involves cost and supply constraints.
—Jake Goodrick, Sacbee.com, 4 Sep. 2025
Reporters follow a similar pattern in terms of engaging as many people as their article’s space constraints allow.
—Jennifer Farmer, Rolling Stone, 4 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for constraint
Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Sep. 2025
Brands and manufacturers must navigate shifting consumer demand, volatile geopolitical conditions, and increasing trade barriers including tariffs and complex international sourcing constraints.
—Sj Studio, Sourcing Journal, 4 Sep. 2025
Water involves cost and supply constraints.
—Jake Goodrick, Sacbee.com, 4 Sep. 2025
Reporters follow a similar pattern in terms of engaging as many people as their article’s space constraints allow.
—Jennifer Farmer, Rolling Stone, 4 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for constraint
Recent Examples of Synonyms for constraint
Noun
-
Americans for Prosperity ― Ogles' former employer and that of many of his congressional staff ― is a political special interest group that advocates for limited government, free markets and fiscal restraint.—
Vivian Jones,
Nashville Tennessean,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Enyedi has often made meditative cinema, but here her restraint in some sequences verges on suffocating.—
Leila Latif,
IndieWire,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Both Poland and Latvia announced new restrictions on Thursday.—
David Brennan,
ABC News,
11 Sep. 2025
-
Once magnets for buyers seeking sunshine – and often looser Covid restrictions – demand has started to cool off in these states.—
CNN.com Wire Service,
Mercury News,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
By the time the impeachment trial commenced, the top-down pressure from prominent, national Republicans could be seen and felt.—
Kimberly Ross,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Sep. 2025
-
His game plan was to move forward, pressure Volkanovski and land with power.—
Trent Reinsmith,
Forbes.com,
12 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Because the threat of discipline exists, that could impact the trade market for Hill.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Suddenly, Rogers was below average at all three core disciplines, and was sent to the Orioles at the trading deadline for prospects Connor Norby and Kyle Stowers.—
Tony Blengino,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Within that report, the limitations of the analysis need to be acknowledged.—
Mark Carey,
New York Times,
6 Sep. 2025
-
Tactics will remain flexible to adapt to changing fire behavior, terrain limitations, and resource availability.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
This compulsion to celebrate himself in general, and to celebrate such a juvenile, harmless gesture in particular, should be yet another reason to lose all patience with Lee Raybon.—
Alan Sepinwall,
Rolling Stone,
4 Sep. 2025
-
Political compulsions could lead to measures that expand the country's fiscal deficit, further raising borrowing costs.—
Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
3 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
This will raise concerns about prisoners in Russia facing further torture and repressions without scrutiny.—
Brendan Cole,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Advertisement Centuries of spiritual repression like this is one reason why so little is known about Black mermaids like Mami Wata.—
Time,
Time,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
This also supports the idea that swearing can momentarily activate mental states that reduce inhibition and allow the body and mind to perform at a higher level.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
-
Lockwood’s lack of inhibition can lead to trouble.—
Alexandra Schwartz,
New Yorker,
25 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Constraint.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/constraint. Accessed 13 Sep. 2025.
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