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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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of constraint
Newcastle also remain bound by financial constraints, with only about £60million spent this season.
—
Philip Buckingham, The Athletic, 14 Jan. 2025
Which groupings of pieces can be staged within the physical constraints of Studio 8H?
—Susan Morrison, The New Yorker, 13 Jan. 2025
Consider the broader sense of the name’s definition — about quantities existing without directional constraints.
—Ron Hart, SPIN, 10 Jan. 2025
Every system is customized to the client’s needs and is based on daily routines, a home's layout, and storage constraints.
—Isabella Milano, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for constraint 
Philip Buckingham, The Athletic, 14 Jan. 2025
Which groupings of pieces can be staged within the physical constraints of Studio 8H?
—Susan Morrison, The New Yorker, 13 Jan. 2025
Consider the broader sense of the name’s definition — about quantities existing without directional constraints.
—Ron Hart, SPIN, 10 Jan. 2025
Every system is customized to the client’s needs and is based on daily routines, a home's layout, and storage constraints.
—Isabella Milano, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for constraint
Recent Examples of Synonyms for constraint
Noun
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Nelson’s approach is using limited development timelines not just to save money, but to challenge his team to work within artistic restraints as a way to hone their skills, resulting in more the experimental fare Strange Scaffold has become famous for.—
Hayes Madsen,
Rolling Stone,
11 Jan. 2025
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At the time, there was a common belief in Germany that military restraint had finally made their country a stable and prosperous one, following two devastating wars.—
Sylvia Taschka,
The Conversation,
9 Jan. 2025
Noun
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White House officials canceled air traffic restrictions tied to the president's movement, allowing first responders to focus on the wildfire crisis.—
Hannah Parry,
Newsweek,
8 Jan. 2025
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Pryor, like other D-1 athletes, accepted amateurism restrictions as a condition of playing college sports.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
8 Jan. 2025
Noun
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There’s insurmountable pressure to look and dress a certain way.—
Shradha Shahani,
Vogue,
15 Jan. 2025
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Love can improve his decision making, but a better offensive scheme can also relieve some of that pressure to perform perfectly at all times.—
Matt Schneidman,
The Athletic,
15 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Saturn, on the other hand, brings the energy of discipline, structure and accountability to the mystical realm of Pisces.—
Valerie Mesa,
People.com,
17 Jan. 2025
-
His biggest flaws, like gap discipline, can be coached up.—
Eddie Brown,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
17 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Gracey makes an effort to innovate in several other ways, navigating around the musical genre’s visual conventions and limitations.—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
14 Jan. 2025
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Heavy Metals Found in Chocolate: Study Sheds Light on Lead, Cadmium in Some Products Criticism of the Report The report has limitations, however.—
Korin Miller,
Health,
14 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Freedom refers to the absence of the initiation of physical force, the absence of compulsion and coercion.—
Brian P Simpson,
Orange County Register,
7 Jan. 2025
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This magical compulsion forces Ella to obey any command given to her, no matter how harmful or absurd, and Ella’s cruel stepmother Dame Olga (Joanna Lumley) and wicked stepsisters Hattie (Lucy Punch) and Olive (Jennifer Higham) constantly take advantage.—
Travis Bean,
Forbes,
21 Dec. 2024
Noun
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The artistry of Sing Sing is undeniable, contrasting the physical and emotional freedom of theater against the confinement and repression of prison.—
Daniel R. Depetris,
Newsweek,
10 Jan. 2025
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Human rights groups have described it as Venezuela’s most brutal campaign of repression in recent decades.—
Genevieve Glatsky,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Two of them were responsible for overexpression in the cellular differentiation process, while one was responsible for inhibition.—
Michael Franco,
New Atlas,
26 Dec. 2024
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Carbonic anhydrase inhibition ameliorates tau toxicity via enhanced tau secretion.—
Gordon G. Chang,
Newsweek,
31 Oct. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near constraint
Cite this Entry
“Constraint.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/constraint. Accessed 22 Jan. 2025.
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