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

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
  • There’s more of Zendaya’s ethereal glam to explore below, including a lip balm that adapts to your lips’ pH and an undereye cream that tightens and brightens.
    — Izzy Baskette, PEOPLE, 16 July 2026
  • The four-in-one anti-aging serum hydrates, brightens, tightens, and plumps skin.
    — Alyssa Morin, InStyle, 12 July 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
  • Less interaction hinders collective knowledge and empathy, potentially worsening mental health.
    — Tracy Brower, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026
  • Neptune retrograde hinders our intuition, leaving us lost in the fog.
    — Lisa Stardust, Vogue, 15 July 2026
Definition of hinders
Verb
  • 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
  • For greater tensile strength, the Bluesign partner is using looms from Muller and Kyang Yhe to create webbing with an even density that lessens the amount the material lengthens when under tension.
    — Sarah Jones, Footwear News, 6 July 2026
Definition of lessens
Verb
  • The farmers said the smoke impedes their hay operation, as the haze blocks the sunlight necessary to dry the hay out.
    — The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore Sun, 17 July 2026
  • The majority opinion, written by Justice Brett Kavanaugh, largely adopted the First Amendment argument that the limit impedes political parties’ ability to advocate for their candidates.
    — John J. Martin, The Conversation, 30 June 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 city says state law prevents it from setting wages for private companies such as airlines, and a new provision in the state budget further restricts what local officials can do for contract workers.
    — DJ Simmons July 27, Charlotte Observer, 27 July 2026
  • Think of it as similar to Gemini Notebook, where the AI restricts its training to a huge database of medical studies and provides clickable links to the research used to determine the answer.
    — Garth Friesen, Forbes.com, 25 July 2026
Definition of restricts
Verb
  • 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
  • Neighbors of the state park who have become accustomed to spontaneous visits found that the new system hampers their ability to make a last-minute trip.
    — Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 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)
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Cite this Entry

“Narrows.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/narrows. Accessed 28 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of narrows for Spanish Speakers

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