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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of constraint
The movie’s over-all arc is a common one: from the unquestioned routines of daily life to the strange new normal of risks and precautions, fears and constraints, illness and deaths; from there to an eventual sense of wary relief.
—
Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 13 Mar. 2025
Prior to Watergate, American presidents enjoyed far fewer constraints on their power.
—Carrie Johnson, NPR, 12 Mar. 2025
The Trump era has also demolished the moral constraints limiting the spread of these ideas.
—Zack Beauchamp, Vox, 12 Mar. 2025
Some of those constraints are also just the story itself.
—Chris O'Falt, IndieWire, 11 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for constraint
Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 13 Mar. 2025
Prior to Watergate, American presidents enjoyed far fewer constraints on their power.
—Carrie Johnson, NPR, 12 Mar. 2025
The Trump era has also demolished the moral constraints limiting the spread of these ideas.
—Zack Beauchamp, Vox, 12 Mar. 2025
Some of those constraints are also just the story itself.
—Chris O'Falt, IndieWire, 11 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for constraint
Recent Examples of Synonyms for constraint
Noun
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Sullivan was being held on charges of assault, kidnapping, unlawful restraint, cruelty to persons and reckless endangerment before she was released on Thursday after posting $300,000 bail.—
Jessica Schladebeck,
New York Daily News,
15 Mar. 2025
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Sullivan, a 56-year-old Connecticut woman, has been charged with assault, kidnapping, unlawful restraint, cruelty and reckless endangerment.—
Mark Davis,
Newsweek,
14 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Los Angeles fires and recovery Malibu businesses are struggling in the aftermath of fire and continuing restrictions along Pacific Coast Highway.—
Andrew J. Campa,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Mar. 2025
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In fact, several places have issued stern warnings to partiers and restrictions this year.—
Kinsey Crowley,
USA TODAY,
8 Mar. 2025
Noun
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There would be fan pressure for the young quarterback to play if Prescott struggled.—
Mark Davis,
Newsweek,
16 Mar. 2025
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The pressure on stocks seems to come from an economic growth scare, which includes plunging consumer confidence, with additional fuel provided by the policy uncertainty surrounding tariffs.—
Bill Stone,
Forbes,
16 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Trump’s style as President offers a case study in the risks of founder-style leadership without operational discipline.—
Paul Klein,
Forbes,
8 Mar. 2025
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The office also oversees a large data collection project that tracks disparities in resources, course access and discipline for students of different racial and socioeconomic groups.—
arkansasonline.com,
arkansasonline.com,
7 Mar. 2025
Noun
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As the court case and investigation into the crash proceeds, Schaffer said the operator of the Stena Immaculate may file a limitation of liability in federal court in an effort to restrict its financial exposure.—
Mark Davis,
Newsweek,
15 Mar. 2025
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But Trump’s order may face limitations short of an act of Congress, which has through the years tried to shield the journalistic entities from political influence.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
15 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The organization encourages people to seek a mental health professional when a person’s obsessions and compulsions begin to affect their quality of life.—
Cheyenne Roundtree,
Rolling Stone,
11 Mar. 2025
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But at what cost? The compulsion to be right often blinds us to alternative perspectives, limits our creative problem-solving, and stifles growth.—
Glenn Llopis,
Forbes,
1 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The sociologist Asef Bayat has documented the impact of everyday resistance against the Islamic Republic’s repression, gradually challenging both the clerical establishment and traditional patriarchal beliefs.—
Narges Mohammadi,
TIME,
7 Mar. 2025
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Neorealism emerged in the immediate aftermath of World War II as a response to the escapism and repression of Mussolini era cinema.—
Beandrea July,
IndieWire,
7 Mar. 2025
Noun
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With Natalie Kalmus out of the picture, swatches of Technicolor lost all inhibitions.—
Thomas Doherty,
The Hollywood Reporter,
11 Mar. 2025
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For spring 2025, Mrs. Prada and Raf Simons basically urged everyone to release your inhibitions, feel the rain on your skin!—
Laia Garcia-Furtado,
Vogue,
27 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Constraint.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/constraint. Accessed 23 Mar. 2025.
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