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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of constraint
The company acknowledges the impact of supply chain constraints and inflationary pressures on its operations.
—
Quartz Intelligence Newsroom, Quartz, 5 Feb. 2025
My social life with friends may change because of the constraints of time and energy in study.
—Abigail Van Buren, Boston Herald, 3 Feb. 2025
As Thirteen Most Wanted Men attests, queerness cannot be understood outside the constraints imposed on it by the law.
—Richard Meyer, Artforum, 1 Feb. 2025
What are the legal constraints for U.S. troops operating on American soil?
—Anna Mulrine Grobe, The Christian Science Monitor, 30 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for constraint 
Quartz Intelligence Newsroom, Quartz, 5 Feb. 2025
My social life with friends may change because of the constraints of time and energy in study.
—Abigail Van Buren, Boston Herald, 3 Feb. 2025
As Thirteen Most Wanted Men attests, queerness cannot be understood outside the constraints imposed on it by the law.
—Richard Meyer, Artforum, 1 Feb. 2025
What are the legal constraints for U.S. troops operating on American soil?
—Anna Mulrine Grobe, The Christian Science Monitor, 30 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for constraint
Recent Examples of Synonyms for constraint
Noun
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Changes in legislation last year outlawed the use of face down prone restraints on students and resulted in several police departments to suspend its school officer agreements and remove officers from campuses.—
Jacqueline Devine,
Twin Cities,
7 Feb. 2025
-
Under Cohen and president of baseball operations David Stearns, the Mets showed financial restraint in dealing with Alonso, a fan favorite in New York.—
Will Sammon,
The Athletic,
6 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Syrian refugees have experienced this backlash in the form of state repression, denial of legal residency and refugee status, and severe restrictions on rights and access to basic humanitarian services.—
Jesse Marks,
Foreign Affairs,
11 Feb. 2025
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The bloc’s landmark AI law, which recently became enforceable for the first time, imposes tough restrictions and threatens hefty fines for breaches.—
Ryan Browne,
CNBC,
11 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Fried could take some pressure off Carlos Rodón following a relative bounce-back year, while Luis Gil and Clarke Schmidt will continue to develop at the back of the rotation following strong 2024 seasons.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
8 Feb. 2025
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Still, some inflationary pressure from wage gains is being offset by U.S. productivity growth, which allows companies to pay more and earn fatter profits without raising prices.—
COMPILED BYDEMOCRAT-GAZETTE STAFFFROM WIRE REPORTS,
arkansasonline.com,
8 Feb. 2025
Noun
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If not, consider how incorporating the discipline of stillness into your life could be of benefit to you.—
Contributed Content,
Twin Cities,
7 Feb. 2025
-
State complaints, discipline and Brazilian butt lift injury or death present nothing new for New Life Plastic Surgery, 8400 SW Eighth St., which lists Morales among its surgeons.—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
7 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Exceeding these limitations can lead to overheating and potential fire hazards.—
Meghan Overdeep,
Southern Living,
7 Feb. 2025
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Despite those limitations, Wettstein said, the survey results probably show a real trend.—
Daniel de Visé,
USA TODAY,
6 Feb. 2025
Noun
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The characters are not wholly irredeemable, and some do arrive through meditation and self-reflection at meaningful answers about their compulsions, even as others remain unwilling to consider such questions about their motivations (and how their actions affect other people).—
Hannah Giorgis,
The Atlantic,
14 Feb. 2025
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But even a casual listener at this point can recognize his compulsion to deflect in the face of bad news.—
Allison Morrow,
CNN,
13 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Even though the film is set in the period of the 40’s and 50’s and is about a celebrated Hungarian architect coming to America for a new life and new opportunities after repression in his own country, Brody is proud that the Brady Corbet film has relevance for what is happening now.—
Pete Hammond,
Deadline,
14 Feb. 2025
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Previous reports from the United Nations had warned that those actions were systematically implemented by Maduro’s repression apparatus.—
Antonio Maria Delgado,
Miami Herald,
2 Feb. 2025
Noun
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This could be a time to release these inhibitions and accept new journeys rather than being stuck in old patterns.—
Athena Sobhan,
People.com,
30 Jan. 2025
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Lammy shed his inhibitions—and found a national platform, in the media—while his future in the Party clouded over.—
Sam Knight,
The New Yorker,
20 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near constraint
Cite this Entry
“Constraint.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/constraint. Accessed 20 Feb. 2025.
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