NARROWING Synonyms: 30 Similar and Opposite Words

narrowing

verb

present participle of narrow

as in tightening

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for narrowing

Verb

The song stays coiled, neither tightening its grip nor exploding into noise.

— Sadie Sartini Garner, Pitchfork, 4 Oct. 2026
Despite short-term rate headwinds, tech giants are actively securing long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs) to support next-generation data centers, tightening overall power-market fundamentals.

— Michael Khouw, CNBC, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of tightening

Verb

Going into his fourth season leading the Mets, the pressure isn’t lessening.

— Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 28 Sep. 2026
House lawmakers have introduced a slew of new bills this month aimed at lessening the impact of gas and fuel prices on Americans' budgets, including floating a tax deduction.

— CJ Haddad, CNBC, 23 Sep. 2026

Definition of lessening

Verb

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
Garces Perez faces one count of assaulting, resisting and impeding a federal officer.

— Camilo Montoya-Galvez, CBS News, 29 Sep. 2026

Definition of impeding

Verb

The conservative-majority Supreme Court has been skeptical of environmental regulations in the past, including in a 2022 decision limiting the EPA's authority to regulate carbon dioxide emissions from power plants.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 6 Oct. 2026
The plan includes changes to pension rules, freezing public sector wages and limiting health care costs.

— Ellen Francis, Washington Post, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of limiting

Verb

The gates blocking it, and the security checkpoints along its flanks, will dramatically limit the public’s desire to enter, and change the tenor and experience of a space that should feel porous and inclusive.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026
Benson’s Sunday task will be blocking defensive ends Malcolm Koonce and Kwity Paye, who, according to Pro Football Focus, have combined for 20 pressures this season.

— Pete Sweeney October 1, Kansas City Star, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of blocking

Verb

Bonner was charged last week with misdemeanor counts of disorderly conduct and hindering or interfering with police.

— Anders Hagstrom, FOXNews.com, 5 Oct. 2026
Robinson, 59, of Churchill, Pennsylvania, is the managing attorney at a Pittsburgh law firm, and has been charged with felony tampering and hindering apprehension for trying to conceal evidence.

— Mike Darnay, CBS News, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of hindering

Verb

While much of the AI safety debate has centered on losing control of AI, Altman said restricting access to AI too severely in the name of safety could be harmful too.

— Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 5 Oct. 2026
The government led by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who faces a national election next year, responded with emergency measures aimed at restricting evictions, curbing property speculation and giving renters indefinite leases, among other measures.

— Joseph Wilson, Chicago Tribune, 3 Oct. 2026

Definition of restricting

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.

Cite this Entry

Style

“Narrowing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/narrowing. Accessed 8 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of narrowing

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

etiquette

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes