as in constraints
something that limits one's freedom of action or choice
civil libertarians contend that the new laws place too many restraints on our constitutionally guaranteed rights
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Recent Examples of restraints
While objecting to restraints, Robinson’s attorneys agree with the sheriff that the court should limit or ban video and photographic coverage of proceedings.
—
Stepheny Price , Melissa Chrise, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2025
Perhaps surprisingly, there are few legal restraints to stop him.
—Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 24 Oct. 2025
Advocacy groups and legal representatives expressed concern over the use of restraints on minors, the transparency of the operation, and how long children were separated from family members.
—Billal Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Oct. 2025
In India, psychiatric hospitals recorded more use of restraints during full moons, based on data collected between 2016 and 2017.
—Joanna Fong-Isariyawongse, The Conversation, 21 Oct. 2025
Three people working on pizzas and other food weren’t wearing hair restraints.
—David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 17 Oct. 2025
Maybe because children often find ways to circumvent those restraints, 67% of respondents want tech companies to do more to set limits.
—Rob Pegoraro, PC Magazine, 8 Oct. 2025
That would mean the union could initiate antitrust litigation against the WNBA, its teams, the salary cap, free agency restrictions, the draft and numerous other restraints.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 7 Oct. 2025
The Sacramento County Board of Supervisors on Wednesday approved a contract extension for the Sheriff’s Office to provide services in Isleton, which dissolved its police force in 2012 due to financial restraints.
—Emma Hall, Sacbee.com, 7 Oct. 2025
Stepheny Price , Melissa Chrise, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2025
Perhaps surprisingly, there are few legal restraints to stop him.
—Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 24 Oct. 2025
Advocacy groups and legal representatives expressed concern over the use of restraints on minors, the transparency of the operation, and how long children were separated from family members.
—Billal Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Oct. 2025
In India, psychiatric hospitals recorded more use of restraints during full moons, based on data collected between 2016 and 2017.
—Joanna Fong-Isariyawongse, The Conversation, 21 Oct. 2025
Three people working on pizzas and other food weren’t wearing hair restraints.
—David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 17 Oct. 2025
Maybe because children often find ways to circumvent those restraints, 67% of respondents want tech companies to do more to set limits.
—Rob Pegoraro, PC Magazine, 8 Oct. 2025
That would mean the union could initiate antitrust litigation against the WNBA, its teams, the salary cap, free agency restrictions, the draft and numerous other restraints.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 7 Oct. 2025
The Sacramento County Board of Supervisors on Wednesday approved a contract extension for the Sheriff’s Office to provide services in Isleton, which dissolved its police force in 2012 due to financial restraints.
—Emma Hall, Sacbee.com, 7 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for restraints
Noun
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The models struggled with spatial reasoning, and some showed a lack of awareness of their own constraints—including one model that repeatedly piloted itself down a flight of stairs.—
Billy Perrigo,
Time,
28 Oct. 2025
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Often, those constraints are shed with the thought that populism will become a larger factor in what films are nominated.—
Marcus Jones,
IndieWire,
28 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Earlier this month, China significantly tightened its restrictions on rare earth elements, which make up a key input in semiconductors found in an array of products from cars to home appliances.—
Max Zahn,
ABC News,
23 Oct. 2025
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Millions rely on them to bypass geographic restrictions, protect sensitive communications or simply browse more securely.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
23 Oct. 2025
Noun
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During that time, Ashley has said he's been working on a policy that is both strong and permits access to the courthouse complex but has acknowledged the limitations of what is legally permissible.—
Vanessa Swales,
jsonline.com,
27 Oct. 2025
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Configuring a new type of carrier from scratch may have led to the limitations.—
Brad Lendon,
CNN Money,
26 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Restraints.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/restraints. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
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