NARROWING Synonyms: 30 Similar and Opposite Words

narrowing

verb

present participle of narrow

as in tightening

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Recent Examples of Synonyms for narrowing

Verb

With October polls showing a tightening contest in both races, these undecided Black voters could play a pivotal role in determining the election results.

— Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 9 Oct. 2026
Police and protesters clashed in Brussels on Friday as tens of thousands of people rallied separately in the Belgian capital against rising living costs and budget-tightening measures introduced by the government.

— Mark Carlson, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of tightening

Verb

Nearly the entire state remains in drought conditions, despite fall rain and the season’s first snows in the high country lessening the severity of the aridity.

— Elise Schmelzer, Denver Post, 5 Oct. 2026
Going into his fourth season leading the Mets, the pressure isn’t lessening.

— Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of lessening

Verb

The insects tunnel their way into the trunk, impeding the tree’s water and nutrient supply and killing it within a year.

— Jennifer Oldham, Denver Post, 8 Oct. 2026
There’s also a 24-hour gym, a light and airy place with multiple cardio machines, weight training equipment, and floor space for yoga, stretching, or floor exercises (and enough room to do so without impeding on anyone else’s space).

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of impeding

Verb

Defects introduced during those steps can disrupt the electronic processes needed for efficient light emission, potentially limiting a material’s performance even when its underlying crystal structure is favorable.

— Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 13 Oct. 2026
In other words, having a semi-capable infrastructure or limiting what data is available to the AI could cripple your chances.

— Ozan Ozerk, Forbes.com, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of limiting

Verb

So far, anti-AI legislation has taken the form of blocking subsidies for AI data centers.

— Jim Edwards, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2026
With all that swirling around them, the presidential motorcade meant to bring Kate, Hal, Grace, and Todd back to Air Force One gets waylaid by protesters blocking the entrance to Heathrow airport.

— Adam B. Vary, IndieWire, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of blocking

Verb

And warming temperatures are hindering their ability to perform essential functions.

— Devika Rao, TheWeek, 13 Oct. 2026
But DistroKid nevertheless hit Sahunta with a copyright strike, freezing his royalty payments and potentially hindering his ability to put out future releases.

— Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of hindering

Verb

Political uncertainty is hampering business investment, France’s biggest business group has warned, while anxious consumers are holding off on purchases.

— Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 8 Oct. 2026
Front-line workers have gone on strike several times since the outbreak began, further hampering efforts to contain the disease.

— ABC News, ABC News, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of hampering

Verb

The archaic legal restrictions restricting same-sex couples or unmarried women, for example, are acknowledged and adhered to, rather than being openly challenged or criticized.

— Guy Lodge, Variety, 11 Oct. 2026
This may include repairing or repositioning a sprinkler, changing the irrigation schedule, removing standing water, posting warning signs, or temporarily restricting access to an affected area.

— Christyne D. Santisteban, Miami Herald, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of restricting

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“Narrowing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/narrowing. Accessed 17 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of narrowing

verb

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