1
as in restriction
something that limits one's freedom of action or choice such circumscriptions on the freedom of speech are antithetical to a free and open society

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2
as in limitation
the act or practice of keeping something (as an activity) within certain boundaries electronic monitoring bracelets are sometimes used to impose a circumscription of movement on people awaiting trial

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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 circumscription Their circumscription, however, does not make Assad’s current priorities less dangerous. Lina Khatib, Foreign Affairs, 17 Jan. 2020 Conditions explicitly accounted by our model include warfare, circumscription, variation in productivity between different local communities, ability to generate surpluses, ability to delegate power, and restrictions on the growth of polities due to scalar stress. Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 20 Jan. 2011 That said, the impact of Mr. Cervas’s circumscription has already been profound, creating the likelihood of highly competitive general-election campaigns from Long Island to upstate New York. New York Times, 28 May 2022 Longtime readers of the site, though, have noted that the site no longer functions this way, in part because the Internet isn’t currently a space conducive to blinders and circumscription. Ross Scarano, Billboard, 6 May 2019 REM candidates made the second round in 453 circumscriptions and its MoDem allies qualified in another 62. Gregory Viscusi, Bloomberg.com, 18 June 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for circumscription
Noun
  • Complete access to Netflix without restrictions is considered Open.
    PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 20 May 2025
  • Harvard, in its refusal to comport with new federal guidelines regarding DEI restrictions, has put $9 billion in federal funding at risk.
    Rep. Steve Weir, Hartford Courant, 20 May 2025
Noun
  • Risks and limitations At high doses, the drug can cause adverse health issues that affect cardiovascular, respiratory and neurologic function, which can be fatal, said the American Addiction Centers website.
    Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 25 May 2025
  • Confronted with the limitations of time and money in a difficult custom market for midsize superyachts, brands and designers are dreaming up semi-custom designs.
    Kristen Tauer, Footwear News, 25 May 2025
Noun
  • But there’s only so much that educators and parents can achieve by working together if city and state leaders are not willing to face hard problems and revenue constraints.
    Milly Arciniegas, Hartford Courant, 27 May 2025
  • In 2023, a study published in the Journal of Transport & Health found people who are able to travel freely outside their local area reported experiencing better health compared to those who faced constraints.
    Jack Beresford, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Circumscription.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/circumscription. Accessed 1 Jun. 2025.

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