confine 1 of 2

verb

kən-ˈfīn How to pronounce confine (audio)
Definition of confinenext
Enter your own sentence containing confine , and get words to replace it.
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1
as in to restrict
to set bounds or an upper limit for will confine my remarks to the subject we came here to discuss

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to imprison
to put in or as if in prison the accused was confined until the trial could take place

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

confine

2 of 2

noun

as in scope

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word confine different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of confine are circumscribe, limit, and restrict. While all these words mean "to set bounds for," confine suggests severe restraint and a resulting cramping, fettering, or hampering.

our choices were confined by finances

When is it sensible to use circumscribe instead of confine?

The words circumscribe and confine are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, circumscribe stresses a restriction on all sides and by clearly defined boundaries.

the work of the investigating committee was carefully circumscribed

When might limit be a better fit than confine?

The words limit and confine can be used in similar contexts, but limit implies setting a point or line (as in time, space, speed, or degree) beyond which something cannot or is not permitted to go.

visits are limited to 30 minutes

When is restrict a more appropriate choice than confine?

The meanings of restrict and confine largely overlap; however, restrict suggests a narrowing or tightening or restraining within or as if within an encircling boundary.

laws intended to restrict the freedom of the press

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of confine
Verb
Actually, the rodents confined their regularity to the kitchen, where 15 pieces got left on a shelf over a prep table. — David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 4 Apr. 2025 China has seen a major ramp-up of prospective players in recent years, as companies prepare for a high-tech future that was once confined to science fiction. — Dylan Butts,evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 4 Apr. 2025
Noun
Of those flowering plants, 250 are considered rare and 62 are known to only grow within the confines of the park. — Ashlea Halpern, AFAR Media, 6 Mar. 2025 Although the image macros subside in favor of straightforward, threatening text — which Landon economically projects on the environment around Violet, rather than cutting to her phone — continuing to use the confines of drop technology keeps the movie’s clock ticking. — Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 10 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for confine
Recent Examples of Synonyms for confine
  1. restrict
  2. imprison
  3. scope
  4. limit
  5. jail
  6. reach
  7. extent
  8. sweep
Verb
  • Japan is part of the First Island Chain, a U.S. maritime containment strategy that seeks to restrict the Chinese military's access to the Western Pacific Ocean.
    — Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Apr. 2025
  • The Big Story Trump directs repeal of Biden showerhead rule President Trump has ordered his administration to repeal a Biden-era rule restricting water flow from shower heads.
    — Rachel Frazin, The Hill, 9 Apr. 2025
Definition of restrict
Verb
  • Union leaders and journalists who criticized Bukele have also been imprisoned.
    — Gisela Salim-Peyer, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2025
  • He is imprisoned in El Salvador, where he was sent with other migrants accused of being gang members.
    — Albert Sun, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2025
Definition of imprison
Noun
  • Do Iranian artists find there is more scope for becoming a professional artist in the diaspora?
    — Rebecca Ruth Gould, JSTOR Daily, 9 Apr. 2025
  • With shed space fitted out to complete two yachts ranging from 98-feet to 229-feet and surface area of around 60,000 square feet, the yard has huge scope for future superyacht construction.
    — Katia Damborsky, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025
Definition of scope
Verb
  • The First Amendment has been plenty misunderstood over the years about limiting speech.
    — New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 16 Mar. 2025
  • This is a time to support mask mandates in health care facilities and beyond, not limit the places people are legally allowed to mask.
    — Nikki Morse, Baltimore Sun, 16 Mar. 2025
Definition of limit
Verb
  • He was arrested after the warrant and was jailed from Feb. 2 to July 22, 2021, sources said.
    — Ellen Moynihan, New York Daily News, 8 Apr. 2025
  • Yoon’s ouster will probably lead to a fresh rethinking of South Korea’s political system, which has seen four of its eight presidents either jailed or impeached since the nation became a democracy in 1987 after decades of authoritarian rule.
    — Max Kim, Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2025
Definition of jail
Noun
  • Neither John Tavares nor Bobby McMann stood out Saturday, but their linemate did enough to put the game out of reach. L3 (Scott Laughton — Max Domi — Calle Järnkrok): C- Though Domi assisted on Robertson’s second goal during a line change, the third line didn’t have a banner night.
    — Nick Ashbourne, New York Times, 6 Apr. 2025
  • The tournament is partnered with the PGA Tour and the Buccaneers legend details the whole point of the invitational is to expand the reach of the Pro Football Hall of Fame away from just one weekend in Canton, Ohio.
    — DJ Siddiqi, Forbes.com, 4 Apr. 2025
Definition of reach
Noun
  • Sir Elton also recently shared the extent of his visual impairment after the album was delayed due to his losing sight in his right eye after catching an infection.
    — Caroline Frost, Deadline, 12 Apr. 2025
  • The dodo’s extinction was, to some extent, the result of a complete ecological overhaul caused by the introduction of non-native species by humans.
    — Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 12 Apr. 2025
Definition of extent
Noun
  • The Padres will hunt for the three-game sweep on Sunday afternoon.
    — Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 12 Apr. 2025
  • In the Trinity League: Orange Lutheran 6, JSerra 0: Orange Lutheran completed a three-game sweep of JSerra with a combined shutout from Sam Principe and Caden Miller.
    — Michael Huntley, Oc Register, 11 Apr. 2025
Definition of sweep

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Cite this Entry

“Confine.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/confine. Accessed 18 Apr. 2025.

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