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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of constraint
The movie’s over-all arc is a common one: from the unquestioned routines of daily life to the strange new normal of risks and precautions, fears and constraints, illness and deaths; from there to an eventual sense of wary relief.
—
Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 13 Mar. 2025
Prior to Watergate, American presidents enjoyed far fewer constraints on their power.
—Carrie Johnson, NPR, 12 Mar. 2025
The Trump era has also demolished the moral constraints limiting the spread of these ideas.
—Zack Beauchamp, Vox, 12 Mar. 2025
Some of those constraints are also just the story itself.
—Chris O'Falt, IndieWire, 11 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for constraint
Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 13 Mar. 2025
Prior to Watergate, American presidents enjoyed far fewer constraints on their power.
—Carrie Johnson, NPR, 12 Mar. 2025
The Trump era has also demolished the moral constraints limiting the spread of these ideas.
—Zack Beauchamp, Vox, 12 Mar. 2025
Some of those constraints are also just the story itself.
—Chris O'Falt, IndieWire, 11 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for constraint
Recent Examples of Synonyms for constraint
Noun
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Sullivan was being held on charges of assault, kidnapping, unlawful restraint, cruelty to persons and reckless endangerment before she was released on Thursday after posting $300,000 bail.—
Jessica Schladebeck,
New York Daily News,
15 Mar. 2025
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Sullivan, a 56-year-old Connecticut woman, has been charged with assault, kidnapping, unlawful restraint, cruelty and reckless endangerment.—
Mark Davis,
Newsweek,
14 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Public-health guidelines are not scripture, and Americans will still find plenty of reason to debate when restrictions have gone too far, or when health officials have gotten the guidance wrong.—
Katherine J. Wu,
The Atlantic,
21 Mar. 2025
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The restrictions Ritchin describes relate mostly to photography’s troubling inability to illustrate what is outside the frame.—
Emmanuel Iduma,
ARTnews.com,
21 Mar. 2025
Noun
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There would be fan pressure for the young quarterback to play if Prescott struggled.—
Mark Davis,
Newsweek,
16 Mar. 2025
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At a key hearing on March 6, 2023, Ricco says, Messiah broke down from the pressure and began crying.—
Nicholas Williams,
New York Daily News,
16 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Yet, despite the Jayhawks’ inarguable strengths, there were times throughout the current season when Self’s men looked lackluster, tossing on-court discipline and good form to the wind.—
Andy Frye,
Forbes,
20 Mar. 2025
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As the Web3 ecosystem continues to evolve, those who can bridge these worlds—who can operate with the discipline of traditional finance while harnessing the dynamism of decentralized innovation—will be the ones who define the future.—
Josh Hammer,
Newsweek,
19 Mar. 2025
Noun
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But Trump’s order may face limitations short of an act of Congress, which has through the years tried to shield the journalistic entities from political influence.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
15 Mar. 2025
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For example, physical limitations, a baby that is in absolute melt-down mode, or even a feeling of general and perhaps sudden unease at your surroundings (always go with your gut).—
Patricia Shannon,
Southern Living,
15 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The organization encourages people to seek a mental health professional when a person’s obsessions and compulsions begin to affect their quality of life.—
Cheyenne Roundtree,
Rolling Stone,
11 Mar. 2025
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But at what cost? The compulsion to be right often blinds us to alternative perspectives, limits our creative problem-solving, and stifles growth.—
Glenn Llopis,
Forbes,
1 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Neorealism emerged in the immediate aftermath of World War II as a response to the escapism and repression of Mussolini era cinema.—
Beandrea July,
IndieWire,
7 Mar. 2025
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The sociologist Asef Bayat has documented the impact of everyday resistance against the Islamic Republic’s repression, gradually challenging both the clerical establishment and traditional patriarchal beliefs.—
Narges Mohammadi,
TIME,
7 Mar. 2025
Noun
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With Natalie Kalmus out of the picture, swatches of Technicolor lost all inhibitions.—
Thomas Doherty,
The Hollywood Reporter,
11 Mar. 2025
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For spring 2025, Mrs. Prada and Raf Simons basically urged everyone to release your inhibitions, feel the rain on your skin!—
Laia Garcia-Furtado,
Vogue,
27 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Constraint.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/constraint. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.
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