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limit

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noun

1
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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
Spotting will be limited to the afternoon hours when humidity levels are the lowest. Ca Wildfire Bot, Sacbee.com, 12 Sep. 2025 But the product may limit how many redemptions investors can make to ensure liquidity demands can be met. Jeanne Sahadi, CNN Money, 12 Sep. 2025
Noun
However, the most important view will be the one that forces us to confront tensions between human ambitions and planetary limits. Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 11 Sep. 2025 While the league grows, there is still a limit to players’ power. Leah Asmelash, CNN Money, 11 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for limit
Recent Examples of Synonyms for limit
Verb
  • Pyongyang has continued to exercise significant control over the population and severely restrict the rights and freedoms of its population, and that has only gotten more intense over the last decade.
    Mike Brest, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025
  • While the new members could vote to further restrict access to any of those safe, lifesaving vaccines, most of the focus has been on COVID-19 vaccine access.
    Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 12 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Among them were countless era-defining releases that are still among the best movies ever made—of any genre—from the haunting Rebecca to the gripping Rear Window, and the ravishing Vertigo to the hair-raising Psycho.
    Radhika Seth, Vogue, 13 Sep. 2025
  • Internally, the current workspace contained not only the visible text documents but also any custom words the user added to the dictionary and any additional tForth words defined in memory.
    Cameron Kaiser, ArsTechnica, 12 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • That limitation has capped how much carbon plants can lock away.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 13 Sep. 2025
  • Gulf states like Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and the UAE could utilize their vast sovereign wealth funds to impose trade limitations on Israel.
    Mostafa Salem, CNN Money, 13 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Cities would also generally be prevented from imposing height and density limits based on how close a development is near a transit stop.
    Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 13 Sep. 2025
  • Channel Orange, his breakthrough album, preceded Blonde by several years but didn’t reach the same heights.
    Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Breeze Basketball Club and Hive Basketball Club will add 12 players to rosters, while six additional athletes will enter a season-long development pool aimed at strengthening depth and competitiveness.
    Roberta F. Rodrigues, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
  • Do not drive around barricades or through water of unknown depth.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 10 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • National Level - From Ozone Protection Establish clear boundaries and accountability mechanisms before problems become irreversible.
    Cornelia C. Walther, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
  • Soon, boundary-free mowing took hold, powered by new technologies like pure vision, UWB, and RTK—each with merits and drawbacks.
    Ni Tao, Interesting Engineering, 15 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Limit.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/limit. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on limit

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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