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 Sentences
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Recent Examples of constraint
The re-creations are never perfect though, Pall says, adding that his team is adapting to the constraints of the technology.
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IEEE Spectrum, 25 Dec. 2024
One particular board member was against the idea of sacking the head coach, factoring in time constraints in terms of finding a replacement.
—Roshane Thomas, The Athletic, 20 Dec. 2024
The beloved classic was born from a constraint: using only 50 words.
—Julian Hayes Ii, Forbes, 28 Dec. 2024
There are legal constraints as to what the FCC can and can’t do but also a question of just how much big media will benefit from a more lenient deal climate and the deregulation expected from the incoming administration.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 26 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for constraint 
IEEE Spectrum, 25 Dec. 2024
One particular board member was against the idea of sacking the head coach, factoring in time constraints in terms of finding a replacement.
—Roshane Thomas, The Athletic, 20 Dec. 2024
The beloved classic was born from a constraint: using only 50 words.
—Julian Hayes Ii, Forbes, 28 Dec. 2024
There are legal constraints as to what the FCC can and can’t do but also a question of just how much big media will benefit from a more lenient deal climate and the deregulation expected from the incoming administration.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 26 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for constraint
Recent Examples of Synonyms for constraint
Noun
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Nelson’s approach is using limited development timelines not just to save money, but to challenge his team to work within artistic restraints as a way to hone their skills, resulting in more the experimental fare Strange Scaffold has become famous for.Hayes Madsen, Rolling Stone, 11 Jan. 2025
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At the time, there was a common belief in Germany that military restraint had finally made their country a stable and prosperous one, following two devastating wars.Sylvia Taschka, The Conversation, 9 Jan. 2025
Noun
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According to data provided by the MSA, there were eight temporary flight restriction violations and unauthorized drone flights during the five Ravens regular-season games of the 2024-25 season.Todd Karpovich, Baltimore Sun, 8 Jan. 2025
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Pryor, like other D-1 athletes, accepted amateurism restrictions as a condition of playing college sports.Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 8 Jan. 2025
Noun
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There’s insurmountable pressure to look and dress a certain way.Shradha Shahani, Vogue, 15 Jan. 2025
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This exerts a kind of gentle social pressure on newcomers.Penny Abeywardena, Forbes, 15 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Arteta’s standards of discipline outweighed Aubameyang’s goalscoring.Phil Hay, The Athletic, 7 Jan. 2025
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However, her lifelong dedication to dance and cheer tells a story less about luck and more about the discipline, ambition and heart famously needed to become a Cowboys Cheerleader.Zoey Lyttle, People.com, 7 Jan. 2025
Noun
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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
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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
Noun
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Freedom refers to the absence of the initiation of physical force, the absence of compulsion and coercion.Brian P Simpson, Orange County Register, 7 Jan. 2025
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This magical compulsion forces Ella to obey any command given to her, no matter how harmful or absurd, and Ella’s cruel stepmother Dame Olga (Joanna Lumley) and wicked stepsisters Hattie (Lucy Punch) and Olive (Jennifer Higham) constantly take advantage.Travis Bean, Forbes, 21 Dec. 2024
Noun
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The artistry of Sing Sing is undeniable, contrasting the physical and emotional freedom of theater against the confinement and repression of prison.Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 10 Jan. 2025
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Human rights groups have described it as Venezuela’s most brutal campaign of repression in recent decades.Genevieve Glatsky, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Two of them were responsible for overexpression in the cellular differentiation process, while one was responsible for inhibition.Michael Franco, New Atlas, 26 Dec. 2024
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Carbonic anhydrase inhibition ameliorates tau toxicity via enhanced tau secretion.Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Constraint.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/constraint. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.
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