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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in restriction
something that limits one's freedom of action or choice
put legal constraints on the board's activities
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of constraint
An important element of the annual event may be going away, however, due to funding constraints.
—
Larry D. Urish, Oc Register, 18 May 2026
While women often visited less frequently—due both to distance, travel constraints and the fact that early retail environments were not designed with them in mind, Koehn says—most men at least occasionally patronized general stores, and many of them did so frequently.
—Daryl Austin, USA Today, 18 May 2026
Infrastructure remains one of the most critical constraints.
—Francisca Mutapi, semafor.com, 18 May 2026
Beck was also asked whether NASA was moving quickly enough given the schedule constraints.
—Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 18 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for constraint
Larry D. Urish, Oc Register, 18 May 2026
While women often visited less frequently—due both to distance, travel constraints and the fact that early retail environments were not designed with them in mind, Koehn says—most men at least occasionally patronized general stores, and many of them did so frequently.
—Daryl Austin, USA Today, 18 May 2026
Infrastructure remains one of the most critical constraints.
—Francisca Mutapi, semafor.com, 18 May 2026
Beck was also asked whether NASA was moving quickly enough given the schedule constraints.
—Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 18 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for constraint
Recent Examples of Synonyms for constraint
Noun
-
Told with exacting restraint yet as layered as the lacquer on an ebony Biedermeier console, this forms a loose triptych with Pawlikowski’s last two features, Ida and Cold War, both of which were set at least partly behind the Iron Curtain.—
Leslie Felperin,
HollywoodReporter,
14 May 2026
-
For the Dior cruise show in Los Angeles, Peter Philips treated glow with the restraint of good lighting.—
Ryma Chikhoune,
Footwear News,
14 May 2026
Noun
-
The order, which escalated the president's bid to place new restrictions on voting ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, is being challenged in court.—
Zac Anderson,
USA Today,
19 May 2026
-
Fans, legislators and even some sports leagues have begun calling for restrictions on gambling ads.—
Luke Connors,
Washington Post,
19 May 2026
Noun
-
Now, seemingly under pressure from the economic fallout from the war with Iran, Modi has framed ordinary consumer choices, such as buying less petrol and choosing work-from-home, as acts of patriotism.—
Rhea Mogul,
CNN Money,
21 May 2026
-
Now, the pitcher’s timing — and his attention — is at the mercy of the clock, and as those 18 seconds tick, pressure builds not on the runner, but on the pitcher, who becomes more predictable when working within such a limit.—
Chad Jennings,
New York Times,
21 May 2026
Noun
-
Since the turn of the century, California’s state budget has been plagued by a boom-and-bust syndrome rooted in its lopsided revenue system and a lack of political discipline.—
Dan Walters,
Mercury News,
19 May 2026
-
The league constitution is a contract between teams, owners and the league that details league authority over teams, including with respect to ownership, relocation, discipline and territorial rights.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
19 May 2026
Noun
-
The company sees slowness not as a limitation, but as a strategic asset that reduces risk, trims costs, and eases environmental impact.—
Chris Young,
Interesting Engineering,
14 May 2026
-
But the Bucs don’t expect the limitation to last long.—
Rick Stroud,
The Orlando Sentinel,
14 May 2026
Noun
-
Alcaraz is aware of the public compulsion to analyze his looks.—
José Criales-Unzueta,
Vanity Fair,
12 May 2026
-
Writing arrived as a compulsion, transmuting grief into something palatable and art-like, like a View-Master stereoscope with kaleidoscope slides.—
Eli Raphael,
PEOPLE,
10 May 2026
Noun
-
Instead of providing convenience, services and consumption, the regime only inflicts repression, intrusion and censorship.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
16 May 2026
-
The goal is not denial or emotional repression.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
14 May 2026
Noun
-
Alcohol relieves social inhibition.—
Jonathan Avery,
STAT,
11 May 2026
-
Beyondthe security gates and ID checkpoints, inhibitions loosen and time flows differently.—
Tristan Bove,
Fortune,
6 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Constraint.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/constraint. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
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