feel constrained
idiom
: to feel that one must do something
She felt constrained to apologize for the harm she'd done.
Examples of feel constrained in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
To live in any society at any time—whether a pre-industrial tribe or a highly urbanized cohort of knowledge workers—is to feel constrained by forces beyond one’s control and for alternatives to seem impossible.
—
Alice Gregory, The New Yorker, 17 Mar. 2025
Instead, much of the industry research efforts feel constrained by a desire to reinforce comfortable narratives rather than disrupt them.
—Jahan Marcu, Rolling Stone, 29 Jan. 2025
So why, with such a radiant double center, does Days of Wine and Roses feel constrained, a little narrow and flat?
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 28 Jan. 2024
And at times the film, roiling with Bernstein's larger-than-life hungers, can feel constrained by its narrative framework.
—Tom Gliatto, Peoplemag, 23 Nov. 2023
For viewers who feel constrained by society’s expectations, these characters’ revelations might provide encouragement.
—Vicki Shabo, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 Aug. 2023
On an individual level, these classifications can feel limiting, Kao said – no one wants to feel constrained by stereotypes or perceptions that others have of them because of their racial or ethnic identity.
—Harmeet Kaur, CNN, 30 May 2023
The active anti-roll bars feel constrained within the stiff suspension and as a result don't seem to decouple as effectively as the Cayenne's to combat head toss.
—Dan Edmunds, Car and Driver, 1 May 2023
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Alice Gregory, The New Yorker, 17 Mar. 2025
Instead, much of the industry research efforts feel constrained by a desire to reinforce comfortable narratives rather than disrupt them.
—Jahan Marcu, Rolling Stone, 29 Jan. 2025
So why, with such a radiant double center, does Days of Wine and Roses feel constrained, a little narrow and flat?
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 28 Jan. 2024
And at times the film, roiling with Bernstein's larger-than-life hungers, can feel constrained by its narrative framework.
—Tom Gliatto, Peoplemag, 23 Nov. 2023
For viewers who feel constrained by society’s expectations, these characters’ revelations might provide encouragement.
—Vicki Shabo, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 Aug. 2023
On an individual level, these classifications can feel limiting, Kao said – no one wants to feel constrained by stereotypes or perceptions that others have of them because of their racial or ethnic identity.
—Harmeet Kaur, CNN, 30 May 2023
The active anti-roll bars feel constrained within the stiff suspension and as a result don't seem to decouple as effectively as the Cayenne's to combat head toss.
—Dan Edmunds, Car and Driver, 1 May 2023
Cite this Entry
“Feel constrained.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/feel%20constrained. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
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