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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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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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 of constraint in a Sentence
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Recent Examples on the Web
Yet in his music, Pryor expresses a raw emotionality that transcends the constraints of formal systems, tapping into something universal — the human condition.
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Anto Dotcom, Rolling Stone, 4 Nov. 2024
Michelle Nijhuis Life in the Ruins Two new books consider the delusion of the human quest to be free from the constraints of nature.
—The New York Review of Books, 1 Nov. 2024
The company continues to streamline operations at its Paris headquarters in light of budget constraints, but will continue to invest in IT development, infrastructure and optimizing operations to strengthen omnichannel growth.
—Rhonda Richford, WWD, 29 Oct. 2024
The company declined to confirm whether West would receive royalties from the sales, given the constraints of certain contractual obligations.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 29 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for constraint 
Anto Dotcom, Rolling Stone, 4 Nov. 2024
Michelle Nijhuis Life in the Ruins Two new books consider the delusion of the human quest to be free from the constraints of nature.
—The New York Review of Books, 1 Nov. 2024
The company continues to streamline operations at its Paris headquarters in light of budget constraints, but will continue to invest in IT development, infrastructure and optimizing operations to strengthen omnichannel growth.
—Rhonda Richford, WWD, 29 Oct. 2024
The company declined to confirm whether West would receive royalties from the sales, given the constraints of certain contractual obligations.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 29 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for constraint
Recent Examples of Synonyms for constraint
Noun
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But those seeking restraint and something more clever than the usual carnage will find this talky (in a good way) creeper offers more to chew on than the genre norm.Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 6 Nov. 2024
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Perched on a drum riser, Carey balanced forcefulness and restraint, heaviness and subtlety, density and spaciousness.Bob Gendron, Chicago Tribune, 2 Nov. 2024
Noun
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Previous Immigration Restrictions Against International Students Using the federal government to limit or reduce the labor supply was the operating principle behind many of the Trump administration’s first-term immigration restrictions.Stuart Anderson, Forbes, 3 Nov. 2024
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The restrictions on political apparel could extend to political references beyond the candidates or issues on the ballot.Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 3 Nov. 2024
Noun
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Holley identified risks related to geopolitical events, supply chain disruptions, and inflationary pressures that could impact future operations.Quartz Bot, Quartz, 8 Nov. 2024
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Instead, China is likely to keep up military and other pressure on Taiwan, as well as pressing its vast territorial claims in the South China Sea.Jennifer Jett, NBC News, 7 Nov. 2024
Noun
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If Trump loses, Republicans will bemoan his lack of discipline, selecting Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio) as his running mate and not employing Nikki Haley on the campaign trail.Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 5 Nov. 2024
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In my opinion, discipline is the backbone of success in both running and business.Nazar Gulyk, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
Noun
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Ramakrishnan noted that the survey isn’t conducted in Asian languages, posing a limitation in the data.Kimmy Yam, NBC News, 6 Nov. 2024
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In Tolleson, voters decided on the Home Rule Option, which refers to how the city’s expenditure limitation is established.Shawn Raymundo, The Arizona Republic, 5 Nov. 2024
Noun
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But there is no legal compulsion for companies to respond and no assurance that companies reporting late have more jobs to report.Erik Sherman, Forbes, 2 Nov. 2024
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But to risk that possibility in the first place is a sign of this compulsion.Sean T. Collins, Vulture, 3 Oct. 2024
Noun
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Iran’s repression of protesters and women amounts to ‘crimes against humanity,’ UN report says The subsequent violent crackdown by the Iranian regime killed hundreds of people.Mohammed Tawfeeq, CNN, 3 Nov. 2024
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The public revelations could now force the West into a tricky balancing act with India, and come amid a worrying growth in transnational repression more globally, say watchdog groups.Aakash Hassan, The Christian Science Monitor, 18 Oct. 2024
Noun
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Whether an 18th-century daybed or a present-day photo of artist Zanele Muholi gazing at her reflection while in bed, interior settings allow for the shedding of inhibitions.Amy Verner, Vogue, 19 Oct. 2024
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In Ballroom Blitz, Clayton delves into how the showbands were part of wider social and cultural change as ballrooms sprang up, offering the young generation a chance to meet up and lose their inhibitions.Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 16 Oct. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near constraint
Cite this Entry
“Constraint.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/constraint. Accessed 17 Nov. 2024.
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