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
Cheryl Wagemann, InStyle, 15 Feb. 2026
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
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Kansas City Star, 8 Apr. 2026
Ice Rollers and Cryo Tools Best for puffiness, inflammation and morning swelling, ice rollers work by temporarily constricting blood vessels.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Apr. 2026
Ice Rollers and Cryo Tools Simple, affordable and surprisingly effective, ice rollers and cryo tools work by temporarily constricting blood vessels.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 8 Apr. 2026
But these designers have shown that the grid doesn’t have to be constricting.
—Edward Keegan, Chicago Tribune, 5 Apr. 2026
Filming in a constricting boxy aspect ratio, the Ukrainian director takes us inside a corroding prison filled with men unjustly incarcerated as enemies of the state.
—Tim Grierson, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2026
Long and baggy Bermudas have been the silhouette du jour for a minute now, a welcome alternative to constricting, itty-bitty Daisy Dukes.
—India Roby, Glamour, 23 Mar. 2026
That inconsistency is particularly striking in Florida, a state that has pushed to expand medical freedom for those who wish to avoid vaccines or fluoridated water, while constricting the rights of people in various stages of pregnancy.
—CNN Money, 16 Mar. 2026
That inconsistency is particularly striking in Florida, a state that has pushed to expand medical freedom for those who wish to avoid vaccines or fluoridated water, while constricting the rights of people in various stages of pregnancy.
—Amy Yurkanin, ProPublica, 14 Mar. 2026
Noun
The straight pair has a snug fit that’s not too tight or constricting.
—Cheryl Wagemann, InStyle, 15 Feb. 2026
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
Ice rollers and cryo tools are best for reducing puffiness, calming inflammation and easing morning swelling by temporarily constricting blood vessels.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Kansas City Star, 8 Apr. 2026
Ice Rollers and Cryo Tools Best for puffiness, inflammation and morning swelling, ice rollers work by temporarily constricting blood vessels.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Apr. 2026
Ice Rollers and Cryo Tools Simple, affordable and surprisingly effective, ice rollers and cryo tools work by temporarily constricting blood vessels.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 8 Apr. 2026
But these designers have shown that the grid doesn’t have to be constricting.
—Edward Keegan, Chicago Tribune, 5 Apr. 2026
Filming in a constricting boxy aspect ratio, the Ukrainian director takes us inside a corroding prison filled with men unjustly incarcerated as enemies of the state.
—Tim Grierson, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2026
Long and baggy Bermudas have been the silhouette du jour for a minute now, a welcome alternative to constricting, itty-bitty Daisy Dukes.
—India Roby, Glamour, 23 Mar. 2026
That inconsistency is particularly striking in Florida, a state that has pushed to expand medical freedom for those who wish to avoid vaccines or fluoridated water, while constricting the rights of people in various stages of pregnancy.
—CNN Money, 16 Mar. 2026
That inconsistency is particularly striking in Florida, a state that has pushed to expand medical freedom for those who wish to avoid vaccines or fluoridated water, while constricting the rights of people in various stages of pregnancy.
—Amy Yurkanin, ProPublica, 14 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for constricting
Noun
-
Concacaf is not the only confederation squeezing games into FIFA windows around the club calendar.—
Tamerra Griffin,
New York Times,
13 Mar. 2026
-
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
-
Opponents argue the policy is shrinking the city’s restaurant workforce by forcing belt-tightening and putting establishments out of business.—
Jake Sheridan,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Much of the recruiting shortfall has been tied to a shrinking pool of qualified applicants.—
Steven Beynon,
ABC News,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
This may occur due to the neck bending forward, compressing the veins, the authors suggested.—
Angelica Stabile,
FOXNews.com,
15 Apr. 2026
-
The structural forces compressing Gen Z’s economic entry point have been building for years, but converged with unusual force in the post-pandemic era.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
14 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
From skipping compression socks to forgetting a backup battery, the same rookie errors show up again and again—and each one has a simple, often affordable fix.—
Samantha Leal,
Travel + Leisure,
18 Apr. 2026
-
This is the compression stroke of the engine, and the valves will be closed sealing off the combustion chamber to moisture.—
John Paul Senior Manager Public Affairs And Traffic Safety Aaa Northeast,
Hartford Courant,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Step Back The core Pentagon automation technology for targeting is Palantir’s Maven Smart System, which allows military personnel to plan strikes by clicking, dragging, and dropping in a single program, condensing hours or days of work into minutes.—
Reed Albergotti,
semafor.com,
18 Mar. 2026
-
Organizers say condensing the South by Southwest Conference and Festival to one weekend for 2026 will increase discovery of new music as attendees from the tech leg of the conference can now partake in the concerts.—
Ramon Ramirez,
Austin American Statesman,
11 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Lungs Starting at around 9,000 feet, your lungs may begin to swell due to a constriction of blood vessels, which can cause fluid to leak and accumulate.—
Brad Stulberg,
Outside,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Egypt as a state of mind The Hebrew name for Egypt, Mitzrayim, shares a root with the word for narrowness or constriction.—
Rabbi Bruce D. Forman,
Sun Sentinel,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
There are three Elvi (Tyler Hanes, Colton Sims and Charles Adler Bischoff at the Marriott, in decreasing order of age).—
Chris Jones,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Despite being a required vaccine in all states to attend public school, rates have been steadily decreasing over the last decade, CDC data shows.—
Arthur Jones II,
ABC News,
16 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Responsible contracting can help.—
Sarah Dadush,
Footwear News,
14 Apr. 2026
-
And procurement cycles, contracting, and industrial capacity do not scale quickly.—
Veronique De Rugy,
Oc Register,
13 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Constricting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/constricting. Accessed 18 Apr. 2026.
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