narrows 1 of 2

plural noun

as in strait
a narrow body of water between two land masses we had to cautiously navigate our dinghy through the narrows before reaching the open water of the bay

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

narrows

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of narrow
as in tightens

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for narrows
  1. tightens
  2. constricts
  3. hinders
  4. lessens
  5. impedes
  6. obstructs
  7. restricts
  8. hampers
Verb
  • The order Johnson signed on Tuesday tightens air pollution control permit reviews, sets new noise rules, and requires a cross-departmental review of data center impacts on energy, water, and cumulative environmental and community effects.
    — Mikayla Price, CBS News, 11 Aug. 2026
  • If your voice tightens or your goodbye stretches out, an anxious child will pick up on it, according to expert guidance.
    — Ashley Lynch, Miami Herald, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of tightens
Verb
  • This stress response constricts blood vessels and accelerates heart rate, which can contribute to blood pressure spikes.
    — Kathleen Ferraro, Verywell Health, 11 June 2026
  • The coldness of the water constricts arteries, requiring the heart to work harder than normal to function.
    — Saleen Martin, USA Today, 14 Apr. 2026
Definition of constricts
Verb
  • Ultimately, glorifying sleep deprivation is counterproductive; prioritizing sleep is key for career longevity and productivity, while chronic insomnia leads to impaired judgment and hinders professional growth.
    — Mena Mirhom, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Neptune retrograde hinders our intuition, leaving us lost in the fog.
    — Lisa Stardust, Vogue, 15 July 2026
Definition of hinders
Verb
  • Your shoulders, ears and hips should be aligned, which lessens the pressure on your lumbar vertebrae.
    — BestReviews, Mercury News, 31 July 2026
  • This lessens the chance of fungal diseases and betters airflow and light exposure to all parts of the plant.
    — Melissa Epifano, The Spruce, 18 July 2026
Definition of lessens
Verb
  • Typically, PAs are putting in 60-hour workweeks, and their duties can include everything from running errands to cleaning up messes to managing the general public when filming takes place in a location and impedes foot or car traffic.
    — Nina Metz, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Contempt of Congress is a federal misdemeanor in which an individual willfully disobeys or impedes a congressional investigation.
    — Connor Greene, Time, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of impedes
Verb
  • Don't tail large vehicles closely - Trucks or buses can kick up a water spray that obstructs visibility.
    — NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 13 July 2026
  • Anatasia steals a truck and obstructs their path, sacrificing herself to a bleak future, all in the name of love.
    — Hunter Ingram, Variety, 10 July 2026
Definition of obstructs
Verb
  • The 'better safe than sorry' mindset, while useful for physical threats, severely restricts career growth, fostering inaction and fear of failure.
    — Bryan Robinson, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Poor and sometimes impassable roads can also make remote areas difficult to reach, while insecurity restricts where health workers can safely operate.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of restricts
Verb
  • The lack of open pores in the soil also hampers the movement of air and water.
    — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Cybersecurity experts increasingly warn that restricting access to advanced AI models hampers defenders’ ability to identify vulnerabilities, test systems, and develop countermeasures.
    — James Marks, Fortune, 23 July 2026
Definition of hampers
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.

Browse Nearby Words

narrowness
narrows
narrows (down)
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Narrows.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/narrows. Accessed 18 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on narrows

Nglish: Translation of narrows for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of oxymoron

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

Is “GIF” Pronounced “Jiff” or “Giff”?

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
image of a green cube out of place in a lineup of red spheres
Odd Word Out: Synonyms Vol. 2 Quiz Figure out which word isn't like the others.
See All