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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Examples 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
  • Pryor, like other D-1 athletes, accepted amateurism restrictions as a condition of playing college sports.
    Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 8 Jan. 2025
  • Banks, property owners and other private companies often have their own additional restrictions on employing, renting housing to or providing services to those with criminal records.
    Shirsho Dasgupta, Miami Herald, 8 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • 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
  • 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
  • Specifying constraints, such as available time or financial limitations, tailors the plan to fit within realistic parameters.
    Tor Constantino, MBA, Forbes, 2 Jan. 2025
  • Yet within this landscape of constraint, Shafak’s work suggests radical possibility.
    Fidan Cheikosman, JSTOR Daily, 1 Jan. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Circumscription.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/circumscription. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.

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