NARROWS Synonyms: 42 Similar and Opposite Words

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

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narrows

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of narrow

as in tightens

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for narrows

Verb

The spacing between officers tightens when arrests take place.

— Sophie Landres, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
Global funding support The move also tightens trade ties between Tokyo and Washington in advanced manufacturing.

— Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 30 Sep. 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

Being polished hinders the chance for an honest dialogue as the moon agitates Chiron.

— USA TODAY, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2026
But Meta raised concerns about some of the bills, saying the law to restrict addictive feeds hinders the company's ability to bring enjoyable content to users on its platforms.

— ABC News, ABC News, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of hinders

Verb

It's got other features such as Copilot integration to answer questions on the fly, as well as HP Eye Ease, which lessens blue light exposure to make your eyes more comfortable.

— George Yang, PC Magazine, 2 Oct. 2026
Enter Genicular Artery Embolization (GAE), a minimally-invasive procedure that lessens blood flow to inflamed spots in the knee to reduce chronic pain and swelling.

— Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 24 Sep. 2026

Definition of lessens

Verb

The sheriff said vehicles parked in a way that impedes traffic will be towed at the owner's expense.

— Jennifer McRae, CBS News, 10 Sep. 2026
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

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 notice cited the campus’ time, place and manner policy which restricts when, where and how students can hold protests and stated that sanctions up to expulsion may be imposed if the student is found responsible.

— Tarini Mehta, Sacbee.com, 2 Oct. 2026
From ancient times, various monastic orders have followed a more expansive form of brahmacharya, one that restricts eight types of engagement with the opposite gender.

— Bhakti Mamtora, The Conversation, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of restricts

Verb

This hampers several of my favorite performances, especially Harper, whose Ben is full of sarcastic indignation, and June Laporte as Ginny, an aspiring reporter in need of proper mentoring.

— Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 19 Sep. 2026
That marks a 37% increase from the same time last year, as the Iran war hampers oil supply.

— Alex Harring, CNBC, 20 Aug. 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.

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“Narrows.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/narrows. Accessed 7 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of narrows

plural noun

verb

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