confine 1 of 2

confine

2 of 2

noun

Synonym Chooser

How is the word confine different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of confine are circumscribe, limit, and restrict. While all these words mean "to set bounds for," confine suggests severe restraint and a resulting cramping, fettering, or hampering.

our choices were confined by finances

When is it sensible to use circumscribe instead of confine?

The words circumscribe and confine are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, circumscribe stresses a restriction on all sides and by clearly defined boundaries.

the work of the investigating committee was carefully circumscribed

When might limit be a better fit than confine?

The words limit and confine can be used in similar contexts, but limit implies setting a point or line (as in time, space, speed, or degree) beyond which something cannot or is not permitted to go.

visits are limited to 30 minutes

When is restrict a more appropriate choice than confine?

The meanings of restrict and confine largely overlap; however, restrict suggests a narrowing or tightening or restraining within or as if within an encircling boundary.

laws intended to restrict the freedom of the press

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of confine
Verb
Congress would have that prerogative, with the president generally confined to ensuring those laws were carried out appropriately. Claire B. Wofford, The Conversation, 25 Feb. 2025 Muskies, on the other hand, are mostly confined to a small portion of North America. Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 20 Feb. 2025
Noun
It’s also got terrific sets and choreography, with an entire act working within the confines of a hot tub. Barry Levitt, Vulture, 21 Feb. 2025 The old rules and confines of what a broadcast has to look like and how a sponsor is made part of the action no longer apply. Steve Bornstein, Sportico.com, 4 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for confine
Recent Examples of Synonyms for confine
Verb
  • In most Swiss cantons, land ownership is restricted to residents of Switzerland only.
    Jennifer Leigh Parker, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2025
  • 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
Verb
  • He was imprisoned in Afghanistan from 2019 until just two weeks before the bombing, at which point he was recruited by an ISIS-K member to assist in the attack.
    Russel Honoré, Newsweek, 5 Mar. 2025
  • Ocalan, 75, has been imprisoned on the island of Imrali, off Istanbul, since 1999, after being convicted of treason.
    ROBERT BADENDIECK AND SUZAN FRASER THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, arkansasonline.com, 28 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • Prior to principal photography, Anderson spent more than a year working with his VFX supervisor Dennis Berardi to develop the full look and scope of the Lost Lands.
    J. Kim Murphy, Variety, 7 Mar. 2025
  • Kessler regularly represents the MLBPA in litigation (including in a recent case concerning the scope of the union’s over agents), and has been involved in every past decertification effort by players unions.
    Chris Deubert, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • In addition to protesting before the meeting, Protect Sailor Bar has collected almost 6,000 petition signatures to keep vehicle access limited.
    Emma Hall, Sacramento Bee, 1 Mar. 2025
  • 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
Verb
  • In related news, the mayor of San José proposed jailing homeless people who repeatedly refuse shelter.
    Kevinisha Walker, Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2025
  • Both men remained jailed on $100,000 bond Thursday at a Platte County detention facility.
    Natalie Neysa Alund, USA TODAY, 6 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Around 814 million people will be within the eclipse's reach, but only a lucky 44,800 people in far northern Quebec will experience more than a 90% eclipsed sun.
    Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 1 Mar. 2025
  • The Cavaliers now have a 7.5 game lead over the Celtics, essentially putting the No. 1 seed completely out of reach.
    Hunter Felt, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • However, with the Russian death toll in Ukraine, which could be as high as 211,000, how veterans integrate into civilian life and how society views them may be shaped by the extent to which the truth of the war's human costs is revealed.
    Dan Perry, Newsweek, 2 Mar. 2025
  • Whilst Europeans may not appreciate the extent to which a ‘beggar thy neighbour’ philosophy is driven by US security policy, the White House is underestimating the value that America’s wide ranging financial, diplomatic and commercial infrastructure bring it.
    Mike O'Sullivan, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • The cameras conduct 360-degree sweeps about every two minutes, and can see as far as 60 miles on clear days, and up to 120 miles on clear nights, according to the University of California, San Diego which operates California’s ALERTCalifornia public safety program and the cameras.
    Edward Segal, Forbes, 9 Mar. 2025
  • Point Loma Nazarene University completed a sweep of the PacWest basketball championships Saturday afternoon, with both the men and women winning their conference tournaments in San Rafael after capturing regular-season titles.
    Bill Center, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Confine.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/confine. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.

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