as in restrained
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Dissimilar Words
1
as in compelled
to cause (a person) to give in to pressure
constrained by conscience to tell only the truth
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in controlled
to keep from exceeding a desirable degree or level (as of expression)
constrained his anger at the needless interruption
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of constrained
Carrie Leach, The Conversation, 20 Jan. 2026
Even in this relatively constrained setting, targeting a peripheral nerve rather than the brain, significant hurdles remain.
—New Atlas, 16 Jan. 2026
Yet China’s capital and financial power is more constrained than its headline figures suggest.
—Zongyuan Zoe Liu, Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025
Going into the end of the year, consumers with constrained budgets may look to stock market gains to augment spending.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 25 Nov. 2025
While GLP-1s offer substantial health benefits to Medicaid beneficiaries, state programs are already facing constrained budgets and administrative demands.
—Annika Kim Constantino, CNBC, 7 Nov. 2025
The project pushed beyond academic theory, relying on low-power computing and low-resolution cameras to prove that AI could run efficiently even in constrained environments.
—Matt Emma, USA Today, 10 Oct. 2025
Without both, the promise of inclusive finance may well remain constrained.
—Felicia Jackson, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
From tariffs squeezing profits and constrained supply chains to lagging consumer demand for electric vehicles, automotive sales — especially among Stellantis brands — have sputtered.
—Liam Rappleye, Freep.com, 24 Aug. 2025
Alexei Oreskovic, Fortune, 23 Jan. 2026
Many of the governments that have traditionally anchored global health financing are also tightening their budgets, constrained by inflationary pressures, higher debt servicing costs, and a political pivot toward defense and domestic priorities.
—Sylvana Quader Sinha, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
And in particular, regions like the Southern Ocean where ecosystems are known to be constrained by nutrient availability.
—New Atlas, 22 Jan. 2026
They’re already constrained by the limited field data available to validate satellite observations.
—Lara Williams, Twin Cities, 22 Jan. 2026
Models can predict the decay rate of sterile neutrinos, which is then constrained from the data.
—Robert Lea, Space.com, 9 Jan. 2026
Guyana remained formally independent, yet functionally constrained.
—Rick Singh, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Jan. 2026
Dadonov has played just five games due to injury, and the club’s limited cap flexibility appears to have constrained its ability to take bigger swings.
—Harman Dayal, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
Similar to other great powers, the United States has long looked at its near-abroad at its exclusive domain, where the influence of geopolitical competitors must be constrained to the maximum extent possible.
—Daniel Depetris, Chicago Tribune, 6 Jan. 2026
Adjective
If engaging people with complex lives and constrained resources were easy, our study samples would already be diversified.
—Carrie Leach, The Conversation, 20 Jan. 2026
Even in this relatively constrained setting, targeting a peripheral nerve rather than the brain, significant hurdles remain.
—New Atlas, 16 Jan. 2026
Yet China’s capital and financial power is more constrained than its headline figures suggest.
—Zongyuan Zoe Liu, Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025
Going into the end of the year, consumers with constrained budgets may look to stock market gains to augment spending.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 25 Nov. 2025
While GLP-1s offer substantial health benefits to Medicaid beneficiaries, state programs are already facing constrained budgets and administrative demands.
—Annika Kim Constantino, CNBC, 7 Nov. 2025
The project pushed beyond academic theory, relying on low-power computing and low-resolution cameras to prove that AI could run efficiently even in constrained environments.
—Matt Emma, USA Today, 10 Oct. 2025
Without both, the promise of inclusive finance may well remain constrained.
—Felicia Jackson, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
From tariffs squeezing profits and constrained supply chains to lagging consumer demand for electric vehicles, automotive sales — especially among Stellantis brands — have sputtered.
—Liam Rappleye, Freep.com, 24 Aug. 2025
Verb
But the company also acknowledged that supply issues constrained its ability to meet demand, crimping its sales guidance.
—Alexei Oreskovic, Fortune, 23 Jan. 2026
Many of the governments that have traditionally anchored global health financing are also tightening their budgets, constrained by inflationary pressures, higher debt servicing costs, and a political pivot toward defense and domestic priorities.
—Sylvana Quader Sinha, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
And in particular, regions like the Southern Ocean where ecosystems are known to be constrained by nutrient availability.
—New Atlas, 22 Jan. 2026
They’re already constrained by the limited field data available to validate satellite observations.
—Lara Williams, Twin Cities, 22 Jan. 2026
Models can predict the decay rate of sterile neutrinos, which is then constrained from the data.
—Robert Lea, Space.com, 9 Jan. 2026
Guyana remained formally independent, yet functionally constrained.
—Rick Singh, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Jan. 2026
Dadonov has played just five games due to injury, and the club’s limited cap flexibility appears to have constrained its ability to take bigger swings.
—Harman Dayal, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
Similar to other great powers, the United States has long looked at its near-abroad at its exclusive domain, where the influence of geopolitical competitors must be constrained to the maximum extent possible.
—Daniel Depetris, Chicago Tribune, 6 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for constrained
Adjective
-
However, the impact of losing her great love in a 1990 racing accident translated into a sober and restrained closet.—
Marta Martínez Tato,
Vanity Fair,
24 Jan. 2026
-
Grapes here develop with higher acidity and lower sugar levels, which leads to wines that feel more restrained and layered.—
Emily Price,
Forbes.com,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
As the number of Palestinians killed by Israeli forces in the enclave spiralled, Ghanem and hundreds of other KCL students felt compelled to act.—
Sana Noor Haq,
CNN Money,
23 Jan. 2026
-
As a result, Russian forces are compelled either to relocate these positions beyond the effective range of Ukrainian drones or to place them under the protection of counter-drone systems.—
Vikram Mittal,
Forbes.com,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
In June 2025, EOS demonstrated the destruction of a tank using a Rodeur 330 fitted with an inert warhead, controlled via FPV.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Unlike autonomous cars which operate on public roads and uncontrolled environments, agriculture occurs on private land where everything is more controlled, which minimizes regulatory hurdles and potential for accidents.—
Sabbir Rangwala,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
There are students who feel inhibited from expressing their Jewish or Zionist identity because of the atmosphere of the atmosphere of intimidation or harassment on college campuses.—
Andrew Stanton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Aug. 2025
-
Nini and Lali seemed happier without him—more relaxed, less inhibited.—
Tao Lin,
Harpers Magazine,
20 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
With temperatures climbing above freezing and sunny skies melting half the structure, they were forced to start over entirely.—
Jordan Greene,
PEOPLE,
14 Jan. 2026
-
Twenty-two people — two civilians and 20 firefighters — were injured and thousands were forced to evacuate.—
Claire Wang,
Oc Register,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
There’s a kind of social contract under which utilities operate essentially as monopolies to provide a public service and in exchange are regulated.—
Judith Kohler,
Denver Post,
7 Jan. 2026
-
The devices measure pollutants regulated by the EPA, including nitrogen oxides, ozone and particulate matter from sources like gas turbines, factories and heavy traffic.—
Jack Armstrong,
Memphis Commercial Appeal,
6 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Walters and her lawyers had argued that repressed memories delayed the filing.—
Jazz Monroe,
Pitchfork,
27 Jan. 2026
-
The more involved Jana becomes, the more she is forced to confront her past and her repressed memories.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The uncle alleged that the donations made by Yamagami’s mother, which by then totalled seven hundred thousand dollars, had been coerced.—
E. Tammy Kim,
New Yorker,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Starks defended Porter by saying Andrews and other witnesses were coerced into giving their statements to police.—
Gregory Royal Pratt,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Constrained.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/constrained. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
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