1
as in to limit
to set bounds or an upper limit for
circumscribed his enthusiasm so as not to make the losing side feel worse
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Recent Examples of circumscribe
Two regulatory limits circumscribed Van Pay and Baumert’s calculations: No shelf can spread more than 350 nautical miles from shore, or more than 100 nautical miles beyond 2,500 meters of depth.
—
Jack Truesdale, The Atlantic, 25 Jan. 2025
Political rights are severely circumscribed for all Iranians, the Internet is managed by the government, regime opponents are subject to arbitrary arrest, and women are singled out for special controls.
—Richard Haass, Foreign Affairs, 6 Jan. 2025
Challenges abound in the bilateral relationship, and China’s ambitions continue to circumscribe India’s ability to act at the regional and global levels.
—Harsh V. Pant, Foreign Affairs, 14 Nov. 2024
In March 2011, Syria’s uprising was still largely nonviolent, and the Assad government’s response, although criminally disproportionate, was relatively circumscribed, claiming the lives of fewer than 100 Syrians per week.
—Alan J. Kuperman, Foreign Affairs, 18 Feb. 2019
See All Example Sentences for circumscribe
Jack Truesdale, The Atlantic, 25 Jan. 2025
Political rights are severely circumscribed for all Iranians, the Internet is managed by the government, regime opponents are subject to arbitrary arrest, and women are singled out for special controls.
—Richard Haass, Foreign Affairs, 6 Jan. 2025
Challenges abound in the bilateral relationship, and China’s ambitions continue to circumscribe India’s ability to act at the regional and global levels.
—Harsh V. Pant, Foreign Affairs, 14 Nov. 2024
In March 2011, Syria’s uprising was still largely nonviolent, and the Assad government’s response, although criminally disproportionate, was relatively circumscribed, claiming the lives of fewer than 100 Syrians per week.
—Alan J. Kuperman, Foreign Affairs, 18 Feb. 2019
See All Example Sentences for circumscribe
Recent Examples of Synonyms for circumscribe
Verb
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We're not limited to making suggestions in the boardroom; our (ideas) extend deeply into an enterprise's daily operations, encompassing brand building, channel expansion, marketing, insights into consumer trends, digital transformation and the establishment of business intelligence systems.—
Russell Flannery,
Forbes,
1 Mar. 2025
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So far, these little goofs include, but are not limited to, momentarily laying off people who oversee the nuclear-weapons stockpile and cancelling Ebola-prevention measures.—
David Remnick,
The New Yorker,
1 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) defines atmospheric rivers as long, narrow corridors in the atmosphere that carry large amounts of water vapor.—
William Lambers,
Newsweek,
9 Mar. 2025
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Silversands Grand Anse Modern design and luxe amenities define Silversands Grand Anse, an intimate, upscale collection of 43 rooms and eight villas, complete with a spacious spa and spectacular dining.—
Carley Rojas Avila,
Travel + Leisure,
9 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Several states have also put environmental-justice considerations into their laws; one in New Jersey restricts certain new industrial permits in places that are already overburdened, for instance.—
Zoë Schlanger,
The Atlantic,
7 Mar. 2025
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In most Swiss cantons, land ownership is restricted to residents of Switzerland only.—
Jennifer Leigh Parker,
Forbes,
7 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Now, kids ranging in age from 4 to 17 are confined to three classrooms and an atrium lined with portraits of the community’s Yup’ik and Athabascan elders.—
Emily Schwing,
ProPublica,
4 Mar. 2025
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It was largely confined to migrant shelters in Chicago.—
Alexander Tin,
CBS News,
4 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Circumscribe.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/circumscribe. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
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