1
as in to compel
to cause (a person) to give in to pressure
constrained by conscience to tell only the truth
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to regulate
to keep from exceeding a desirable degree or level (as of expression)
constrained his anger at the needless interruption
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of constrain
Addressing those critical questions is a conundrum in Lake Tahoe, where on summer days evacuation routes are already constrained by people parking on roadsides.
—
Calmatters, The Mercury News, 20 Mar. 2025
Housing providers lose rental income, potential residents remain without homes and the overall housing supply is artificially constrained, all of which undercuts affordability.
—Miranda Darden-Willems, Baltimore Sun, 20 Mar. 2025
The United States and its allies, meanwhile, have increasingly used financial sanctions as tools to constrain adversaries.
—Monica Duffy Toft, Foreign Affairs, 13 Mar. 2025
Two dessert dishes included a banana leaf flan drizzled in sesame caramel and a violet hibiscus meringue that sparked a tropical sensation yet casually constrained thanks to a touch of vanilla.
—Andrew Watman, Forbes, 14 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for constrain
Calmatters, The Mercury News, 20 Mar. 2025
Housing providers lose rental income, potential residents remain without homes and the overall housing supply is artificially constrained, all of which undercuts affordability.
—Miranda Darden-Willems, Baltimore Sun, 20 Mar. 2025
The United States and its allies, meanwhile, have increasingly used financial sanctions as tools to constrain adversaries.
—Monica Duffy Toft, Foreign Affairs, 13 Mar. 2025
Two dessert dishes included a banana leaf flan drizzled in sesame caramel and a violet hibiscus meringue that sparked a tropical sensation yet casually constrained thanks to a touch of vanilla.
—Andrew Watman, Forbes, 14 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for constrain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for constrain
Verb
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To compel Brand to return home, the UK government’s Home Office would need to make an extradition request to U.S. authorities.—
Jake Kanter,
Deadline,
4 Apr. 2025
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Overreaching diversity strategies can not only suppress speech, but also compel it.—
Suzanne Nossel,
Twin Cities,
3 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Aside from crime, the advisory spotlights the dangers around jet skiing and boating in the Bahamas, noting that the boating industry is not well regulated and some watercraft are not licensed, which has led to injury and death.—
Katie Nadworny,
Travel + Leisure,
3 Apr. 2025
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Public health groups had already sued the FDA for not moving fast enough to review the products after the agency, in 2016, finalized rules for regulating them under the 2009 Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act.—
Maureen Groppe,
USA Today,
2 Apr. 2025
Verb
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She was sentenced in federal court in Boston to four years in prison for charges of coercing people to engage in prostitution and money laundering conspiracy.—
Flint McColgan,
Boston Herald,
29 Mar. 2025
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Experts say this is a potentially serious counterintelligence problem that could allow foreign intelligence services to gain insight into a target’s social network or even identify individuals who could be paid or coerced to act against them.—
Dhruv Mehrotra,
Wired News,
27 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The underlying challenge the editorial was hinting at was how any reform can be accomplished through governance mechanisms to contain growth which also respects some measure of individual choice for consumption.—
Saleem H. Ali,
Forbes.com,
8 Apr. 2025
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The Keystone oil pipeline was shut down Tuesday morning following a rupture in North Dakota, with the resulting spill contained to an agricultural field near Fort Ransom.—
Gordon G. Chang,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Her story forced the country to confront a flawed legal system and the cultural discomfort with women who challenged it.—
Gemma Allen,
Forbes.com,
1 Apr. 2025
-
Learning to slow down was important because playing and touring almost non-stop for a decade forced us to not do so well at managing our (bodies and lives), which led to us all burning ourselves out.—
Marcus K. Dowling,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Tiny parasitic wasps also control aphids with adults laying their eggs within the aphids and the developing wasp larvae feeding on them.—
Rita Perwich,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
5 Apr. 2025
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In the second half, with a solid lead, the Wolverines continued to control the tempo, and their defense held strong, shutting out the Mustangs.—
Charles Baggarly,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
5 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Is he contractually obligated to win all the fights?—
Chris Lee,
Vulture,
28 Mar. 2025
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The payment to the city needs to be fulfilled by March 30, when the city is obligated to close its books for the year.—
Nell Salzman,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Hansi Flick was seen restraining the Brazilian, who headed down the tunnel clearly enraged.—
Tom Sanderson,
Forbes.com,
5 Apr. 2025
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The state’s strongest piece of evidence against Pratt was his DNA found on a roll of duct tape that was used to restrain the victims.—
Angie DiMichele,
Sun Sentinel,
5 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Constrain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/constrain. Accessed 13 Apr. 2025.
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