1
as in restraint
the checking of one's true feelings and impulses when dealing with others
in civilized society people do not just say or do whatever they feel like—they exercise some constraint
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in restriction
something that limits one's freedom of action or choice
put legal constraints on the board's activities
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in pressure
the use of power to impose one's will on another
parental constraint can take several different forms, including a denial of the approval that children usually seek from their parents
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of constraint
April 26 is no exception, as Mars opposes Pluto (for the second time since November 2024), highlighting a deep power struggle between the desire for growth and investment vs. the challenges that could come with financial constraints.
—
Valerie Mesa, People.com, 3 Apr. 2025
The vertical nature of the homes, different than a classic single-family home, reflect space constraints in much of Southern California.
—Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Apr. 2025
Her father's experience as an OB/GYN provided insight into the time constraints and systemic challenges providers face.
—Geri Stengel, Forbes.com, 2 Apr. 2025
And while the interests of international law look unlikely to be served over the next four days, the trip, by virtue of its singularity, acts as a reminder of the new international constraints under which Israel’s leader now operates.
—Andrew Carey, CNN Money, 2 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for constraint
Valerie Mesa, People.com, 3 Apr. 2025
The vertical nature of the homes, different than a classic single-family home, reflect space constraints in much of Southern California.
—Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Apr. 2025
Her father's experience as an OB/GYN provided insight into the time constraints and systemic challenges providers face.
—Geri Stengel, Forbes.com, 2 Apr. 2025
And while the interests of international law look unlikely to be served over the next four days, the trip, by virtue of its singularity, acts as a reminder of the new international constraints under which Israel’s leader now operates.
—Andrew Carey, CNN Money, 2 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for constraint
Recent Examples of Synonyms for constraint
Noun
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The chance that American attacks on Houthis could prompt attacks on Saudi Arabia and a renewal of the kingdom’s brutal war in Yemen was a chief concern of the Biden administration, a prime reason that White House operated with a degree of restraint in its strikes on Houthi targets.—
New York Times,
New York Times,
26 Mar. 2025
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Sullivan, 56, was charged with first-degree unlawful restraint, cruelty to persons and first-degree reckless endangerment.—
Livi Stanford,
Hartford Courant,
25 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
There are no gestational age restrictions, although most abortions are performed during the first trimester and those after 23 weeks require specialized care.—
Michael Hiltzik,
Los Angeles Times,
2 Apr. 2025
-
Improper restriction and exclusion of ill food service employees.—
Ashley Fredde,
Idaho Statesman,
2 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
As privacy changes reshape digital advertising and economic pressures demand greater efficiency, the cost of fragmented analysis is becoming impossible to ignore.—
Cody Greco,
Forbes.com,
28 Mar. 2025
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But there must have been a pressure, or at least the possibility, of staying on tour for a whole ‘nother year, if not longer, knowing the demand for it was there and then some.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
28 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
The special section of Art Bulletin—which, as the discipline’s flagship journal, constitutes a semiofficial statement about AI’s importance in the field—devoted the majority of its space to critical commentary about the application of computer vision to works of art.—
Sonja Drimmer,
Artforum,
1 Apr. 2025
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That discipline has helped broaden the National Rally’s appeal, especially in the aftermath of Macron’s defeat in the 2024 European elections.—
Thomas Adamson,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Microsoft acknowledges several limitations, including poor enemy interactions, a short context length of just 0.9 seconds (meaning the system forgets objects outside its view), and unreliable numerical tracking for game elements like health values.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
8 Apr. 2025
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This means there will be limitations on who can view their content, see their profile information, and more.—
Anna Halkidis,
Parents,
8 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Creating collages is almost a compulsion, a way for Jarmusch to escape from the world and nestle into self-reflection.—
Renée Reizman,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Mar. 2025
-
The exchange between artist and patron, however, becomes corrosive, a tumultuous dynamic fueled by Van Buren’s megalomania and Tóth’s creative compulsion.—
Madison Bloom,
Pitchfork,
24 Jan. 2025
Noun
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The decision was also a relief for the hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans living in the United States who were grappling with the uncertainty of returning to a country where many of them could face political persecution and repression from Nicolas Maduro’s government.—
Jay Weaver,
Miami Herald,
4 Apr. 2025
-
Authoritarian organizations do not yield gracefully and usually react with violent repression.—
Josh Hammer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Those raising awareness of the Arabic Facebook posts feel no such inhibition.—
Ben Sales,
Sun Sentinel,
24 Mar. 2025
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However, there are widespread inhibitions against the use of fast chargers, as they’re widely believed to reduce the total lifespan of an EV battery – although there is currently little data to support the theory.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
20 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Constraint.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/constraint. Accessed 15 Apr. 2025.
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