as in squeezing
the act or process of reducing the size or volume of something by or as if by pressing
the constant constricting of the animal's throat had caused permanent damage
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in shrinking
to become smaller in size or volume through the drawing together of particles of matter
the vessel constricted, thereby reducing the flow of blood
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in compressing
to reduce in size or volume by or as if by pressing parts or members together
constricted the opening with a clamp
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of constricting
Starre Vartan, CNN Money, 16 Dec. 2025
Toddlers and babies especially might especially appreciate a break from their constricting seat, and a change in scenery, by talking a walk up and down the aisles with mom or dad.
—Sherri Gordon, Parents, 23 Oct. 2025
Its space is at once endless and constricting.
—Literary Hub, 20 Oct. 2025
Wildlife art can be confining, constricting, customary; contemporary artists are assuring its survival and vibrancy by breaking from the traditional.
—Chadd Scott, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2025
Jillian Dara, Travel + Leisure, 11 Jan. 2026
The wide waistband, which stays in place without feeling constricting, has a seamless design for a smooth look.
—Isabel Garcia, PEOPLE, 11 Jan. 2026
To prevent that, the body responds by constricting blood vessels and pumping your heart harder and faster.
—Alex Hutchinson, Outside, 15 Dec. 2025
While the underlying cause of blemishes and cystic acne is bacteria, a dose of chill can help relieve pain and decrease inflammation by constricting the blood vessels.
—Lauren Valenti, Vogue, 12 Dec. 2025
Make sure to swim in the waters off Princess Margaret Beach, where the late British royal would come to escape the socially constricting confines of Mustique island.
—Mark Ellwood, AFAR Media, 7 Nov. 2025
The tensions are mounting and the room for error is constricting.
—Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
All the while, opportunities for renewable energy development — which could quickly alleviate some of the pain from electric bills and electricity demand from new industry — are constricting across the state.
—Sophie Hartley, IndyStar, 20 Oct. 2025
Relationships that feel financially or emotionally constricting may feel harder to ignore now.
—Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 29 Sep. 2025
Noun
Howard and her team got the company to redesign the uniform after about a year of trying, swapping the constricting top for a looser one.
—Starre Vartan, CNN Money, 16 Dec. 2025
Toddlers and babies especially might especially appreciate a break from their constricting seat, and a change in scenery, by talking a walk up and down the aisles with mom or dad.
—Sherri Gordon, Parents, 23 Oct. 2025
Its space is at once endless and constricting.
—Literary Hub, 20 Oct. 2025
Wildlife art can be confining, constricting, customary; contemporary artists are assuring its survival and vibrancy by breaking from the traditional.
—Chadd Scott, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2025
Verb
Designed with mild compression (8-15 mmHg), these won’t feel as constricting as socks with higher support, which might be preferred by some travelers.
—Jillian Dara, Travel + Leisure, 11 Jan. 2026
The wide waistband, which stays in place without feeling constricting, has a seamless design for a smooth look.
—Isabel Garcia, PEOPLE, 11 Jan. 2026
To prevent that, the body responds by constricting blood vessels and pumping your heart harder and faster.
—Alex Hutchinson, Outside, 15 Dec. 2025
While the underlying cause of blemishes and cystic acne is bacteria, a dose of chill can help relieve pain and decrease inflammation by constricting the blood vessels.
—Lauren Valenti, Vogue, 12 Dec. 2025
Make sure to swim in the waters off Princess Margaret Beach, where the late British royal would come to escape the socially constricting confines of Mustique island.
—Mark Ellwood, AFAR Media, 7 Nov. 2025
The tensions are mounting and the room for error is constricting.
—Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
All the while, opportunities for renewable energy development — which could quickly alleviate some of the pain from electric bills and electricity demand from new industry — are constricting across the state.
—Sophie Hartley, IndyStar, 20 Oct. 2025
Relationships that feel financially or emotionally constricting may feel harder to ignore now.
—Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 29 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for constricting
Noun
-
Hassan’s team instead squeezed a photon’s intensity and demonstrated real-time control, fluctuating between intensity and phase-squeezing by adjusting the silica’s position relative to the beams.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Unfortunately, shrinking happens in the laundry much too easily, but fortunately, unshrinking is almost just as easy.—
Hallie Milstein,
Southern Living,
15 Jan. 2026
-
The good news is, even if your home has relatively low ceilings, there are ways to add unique architectural details without shrinking the room.—
Timothy Dale,
The Spruce,
15 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
What’s more, this formal ingenuity never distracts from the emotional intensity of the story but, rather, amplifies its force by simultaneously compressing and expanding the action.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
13 Jan. 2026
-
Instead of compressing at the pixel level, the algorithm appears to be copying and manipulating objects from multiple images, while maintaining a degree of visual continuity.—
Alex Reisner,
The Atlantic,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
This impressive deal only applies to the six-piece set, which includes five compression packing cubes and one drawstring bag in select colors.—
Emily Belfiore,
Travel + Leisure,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Shortly after, viewers see chest compressions being performed on Jo as Link (Chris Carmack) prays in a church surrounded by candles.—
Christopher Rudolph,
PEOPLE,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Anyone who’s survived to 2026 knows the upper class’ fictitious fantasies still carry real, wretched consequences for the rest of us, but Season 4 plays out those ongoing scenarios to the nth degree, while condensing them into an appreciable narrative arc.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
11 Jan. 2026
-
Campaigns for special elections are sprints, condensing what typically occurs over the better part of a year into no more than 56 days.—
Mark Pazniokas,
Hartford Courant,
6 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The constriction leads to spikes in blood pressure and heightens a diabetic person’s risk of heart disease.—
Jyoti Madhusoodanan,
Scientific American,
16 Dec. 2025
-
These kinds of vessels are, then, more prone to constriction, upping your risk for a blockage.—
Erica Sloan,
SELF,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The American Heart Association guidelines recommend abstinence, or at least decreasing alcohol intake to no more than one drink per day for everyone to prevent or treat high blood pressure.—
Angela Ryan Lee,
Verywell Health,
15 Jan. 2026
-
The largest share — 59% — goes to the convention center, but for the first 5 1/2 years, homelessness programs will get 41% of the funds before decreasing later on to 31%.—
Lori Weisberg,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
14 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The mayor’s team should infuse job quality considerations throughout the contracting process, including working extensively with procurement officials.—
Terri Gerstein,
New York Daily News,
13 Jan. 2026
-
Is the company expanding or contracting?—
Vicki Salemi,
Boston Herald,
11 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Constricting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/constricting. Accessed 18 Jan. 2026.
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