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limit

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noun

1
2
as in height
the most extreme or advanced point those bratty kids have pushed my patience to the limit

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word limit different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of limit are circumscribe, confine, and restrict. While all these words mean "to set bounds for," limit implies setting a point or line (as in time, space, speed, or degree) beyond which something cannot or is not permitted to go.

visits are limited to 30 minutes

When could circumscribe be used to replace limit?

In some situations, the words circumscribe and limit are roughly equivalent. However, circumscribe stresses a restriction on all sides and by clearly defined boundaries.

the work of the investigating committee was carefully circumscribed

When might confine be a better fit than limit?

While in some cases nearly identical to limit, confine suggests severe restraint and a resulting cramping, fettering, or hampering.

our choices were confined by finances

When can restrict be used instead of limit?

The words restrict and limit can be used in similar contexts, but restrict suggests a narrowing or tightening or restraining within or as if within an encircling boundary.

laws intended to restrict the freedom of the press

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of limit
Verb
Letters are limited to less than 250 words and must be signed (no pseudonyms nor initials).You must include your email address, address with city and daytime phone number for verification. Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 July 2025 Withdrawals during a market downturn not only reduce the size of a portfolio but also limit future growth. Lorie Konish, CNBC, 11 July 2025
Noun
Here are the inspection scores and violations for restaurants within the city limits of Fort Worth for July 6th - July 12th, 2025. Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 July 2025 The new constitutional amendment specifically barring taxation of capital gains, if approved by voters, would make clear that a capital gains tax is also off limits per the Texas constitution. Patrick Gleason, Forbes.com, 22 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for limit
Recent Examples of Synonyms for limit
Verb
  • Trump’s pressure campaign on U.S. universities has ranged from slashing billions of dollars in research funding to restricting international students.
    Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 15 July 2025
  • The City Council Ethics Committee on Monday advanced an ordinance that restricts when the city’s Law Department can attend investigative interviews and lays out when city attorneys can claim attorney-client privilege to avoid sharing records sought by the inspector general.
    Jake Sheridan, Chicago Tribune, 14 July 2025
Verb
  • Betts spent the All-Star break — his first healthy break when he wasn’t named an All-Star since 2015 — back in the Nashville, Tenn., area, working out at a facility and continuing his deluge of swings that have defined his season.
    Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 20 July 2025
  • Among moderate caffeine users—defined as consuming less than 400 milligrams (mg) per day—the increase tends to be relatively small.
    MD Published, Verywell Health, 19 July 2025
Noun
  • And that our natural limitations are not just physical, but also social and cognitive.
    Pia Lauritzen, Forbes.com, 13 July 2025
  • Isaacson says the limitations on mobility in immigrant communities will have ripple effects across the nation's economy.
    Jasmine Garsd, NPR, 12 July 2025
Noun
  • That said, every year that goes by, their anxiety reaches new heights.
    R. Eric Thomas, Chicago Tribune, 20 July 2025
  • Baumgartner helped popularize the extreme sport of BASE jumping, parachuting from heights both natural and man-made including the Christ The Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro and the Empire State Building in New York City.
    Greg Evans, Deadline, 18 July 2025
Noun
  • In a way, the dichotomy simply reflects the challenge our team faces each day: Provide news in the moment, with expertise and precision, then add context and depth around important and complicated topics to help readers understand what is happening and why.
    Greg Borowski, jsonline.com, 11 July 2025
  • The biggest issue surrounding Miami’s offensive line is the lack of depth.
    Omar Kelly July 11, Miami Herald, 11 July 2025
Noun
  • The law says that if 25% of residents living within the boundaries lodge protests, the residents and landowners must vote in a special election on the issue.
    Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 14 July 2025
  • Even in heated moments, the relationship remains unaffected at its roots because conflict stays within respectable boundaries.
    Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Limit.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/limit. Accessed 26 Jul. 2025.

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