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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of constraint
But funding constraints limit how much help agencies can provide.
—
Ben Fenwick, Oklahoma Watch, 12 Jan. 2026
The analyst’s optimism is also backed by its acid-gas injection project, planned for late 2026, which will open access to more sour gas and ease utilization constraints in the Delaware system.
—Tipranks.com Staff, CNBC, 11 Jan. 2026
The award was skipped in 2024 due to time constraints following the addition of more categories to the show.
—Kate Hogan, PEOPLE, 11 Jan. 2026
There are constraints on your power beyond your morality.
—NBC news, 11 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for constraint
Ben Fenwick, Oklahoma Watch, 12 Jan. 2026
The analyst’s optimism is also backed by its acid-gas injection project, planned for late 2026, which will open access to more sour gas and ease utilization constraints in the Delaware system.
—Tipranks.com Staff, CNBC, 11 Jan. 2026
The award was skipped in 2024 due to time constraints following the addition of more categories to the show.
—Kate Hogan, PEOPLE, 11 Jan. 2026
There are constraints on your power beyond your morality.
—NBC news, 11 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for constraint
Recent Examples of Synonyms for constraint
Noun
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But restraint does not mean passivity.—
Phil Morris The Minnesota Star Tribune,
Arkansas Online,
10 Jan. 2026
-
The American Conservative was founded on foreign policy restraint, trade realism, and migration sanity in 2002.—
Jennifer Kavanagh,
Washington Post,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Later that month, a judge lifted the restriction and ordered that Hildebrandt must put $100,000 from the potential sale in a bank account for the children, according to ABC7.—
Caroline Blair,
PEOPLE,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Local blackout restrictions for Marlins would be eliminated in that scenario.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The development comes after multiple prosecutors in Minnesota resigned amid pressure from the Department of Justice to launch an investigation into Good's wife, multiple news outlets reported.—
Christopher Cann,
USA Today,
15 Jan. 2026
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Fuel and water are fed into the chamber, creating a self-sustaining cycle that maintains high pressure during combustion.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
15 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Eberflus’ best intentions and vision for winning football disintegrated due in part to his team’s lack of discipline and the coaching staff’s inability to steer out of even the smallest skids.—
Dan Wiederer,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
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However, the Chinese researchers argue that those systems typically focus on fewer disciplines and often require manual adjustments when expanded.—
Kapil Kajal,
Interesting Engineering,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Those limitations cost them more than Kornet, with Kristaps Porziņģis (traded to the Atlanta Hawks) and Al Horford (signed with the Golden State Warriors) also lost during the offseason.—
Jared Weiss,
New York Times,
11 Jan. 2026
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While the limitations imposed by the ACA cannot be undone by executive order, Congress has the power to repeal them.—
Justin Leventhal,
Boston Herald,
11 Jan. 2026
Noun
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These obsessions and compulsions interfere with daily activities and cause significant distress.—
Vanessa Etienne,
PEOPLE,
8 Jan. 2026
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These obsessions and compulsions can vary from person to person.—
Alyssa Goldberg,
USA Today,
15 Dec. 2025
Noun
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Iran’s spiraling anti-government protests have been driven by widespread anger over political repression and economic hardship, including rising inflation.—
Emma Bussey,
FOXNews.com,
13 Jan. 2026
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In the wake of Maduro’s capture — with repression continuing, prisoners still behind bars and Venezuela’s future being negotiated around oil and power — Ramírez sees the film as both testimony and warning.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Most of those seeds require some bit of cold weather exposure or other mitigating factor to overcome the inhibition and set the stage for a more sensible spring germination.—
Paul Cappiello,
Louisville Courier Journal,
21 Nov. 2025
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The key is to relax, let go of your inhibitions, and just have fun.—
Kimberly Zapata,
Parents,
17 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Constraint.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/constraint. Accessed 16 Jan. 2026.
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