as in squeezing
the act or process of reducing the size or volume of something by or as if by pressing
the constant constricting of the animal's throat had caused permanent damage
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in shrinking
to become smaller in size or volume through the drawing together of particles of matter
the vessel constricted, thereby reducing the flow of blood
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in compressing
to reduce in size or volume by or as if by pressing parts or members together
constricted the opening with a clamp
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of constricting
Starre Vartan, CNN Money, 16 Dec. 2025
Toddlers and babies especially might especially appreciate a break from their constricting seat, and a change in scenery, by talking a walk up and down the aisles with mom or dad.
—Sherri Gordon, Parents, 23 Oct. 2025
Its space is at once endless and constricting.
—Literary Hub, 20 Oct. 2025
Wildlife art can be confining, constricting, customary; contemporary artists are assuring its survival and vibrancy by breaking from the traditional.
—Chadd Scott, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2025
Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 26 Jan. 2026
Frostbite occurs due to your blood vessels constricting due to the cold.
—Ron Smiley, CBS News, 20 Jan. 2026
The long-sleeve top has a close fit without being constricting, and the wide-leg sweatpants have a drawstring waistband and two side pockets.
—Isabel Garcia, PEOPLE, 18 Jan. 2026
Eating too much saturated fat can raise your cholesterol, a waxy substance that can build up in your arteries, narrowing and constricting them, and affecting blood flow.
—Sarah Bence, Verywell Health, 15 Jan. 2026
Designed with mild compression (8-15 mmHg), these won’t feel as constricting as socks with higher support, which might be preferred by some travelers.
—Jillian Dara, Travel + Leisure, 11 Jan. 2026
To prevent that, the body responds by constricting blood vessels and pumping your heart harder and faster.
—Alex Hutchinson, Outside, 15 Dec. 2025
While the underlying cause of blemishes and cystic acne is bacteria, a dose of chill can help relieve pain and decrease inflammation by constricting the blood vessels.
—Lauren Valenti, Vogue, 12 Dec. 2025
Make sure to swim in the waters off Princess Margaret Beach, where the late British royal would come to escape the socially constricting confines of Mustique island.
—Mark Ellwood, AFAR Media, 7 Nov. 2025
Noun
Howard and her team got the company to redesign the uniform after about a year of trying, swapping the constricting top for a looser one.
—Starre Vartan, CNN Money, 16 Dec. 2025
Toddlers and babies especially might especially appreciate a break from their constricting seat, and a change in scenery, by talking a walk up and down the aisles with mom or dad.
—Sherri Gordon, Parents, 23 Oct. 2025
Its space is at once endless and constricting.
—Literary Hub, 20 Oct. 2025
Wildlife art can be confining, constricting, customary; contemporary artists are assuring its survival and vibrancy by breaking from the traditional.
—Chadd Scott, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2025
Verb
The downside is that following instructions or tutorials may feel unusually constricting.
—Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 26 Jan. 2026
Frostbite occurs due to your blood vessels constricting due to the cold.
—Ron Smiley, CBS News, 20 Jan. 2026
The long-sleeve top has a close fit without being constricting, and the wide-leg sweatpants have a drawstring waistband and two side pockets.
—Isabel Garcia, PEOPLE, 18 Jan. 2026
Eating too much saturated fat can raise your cholesterol, a waxy substance that can build up in your arteries, narrowing and constricting them, and affecting blood flow.
—Sarah Bence, Verywell Health, 15 Jan. 2026
Designed with mild compression (8-15 mmHg), these won’t feel as constricting as socks with higher support, which might be preferred by some travelers.
—Jillian Dara, Travel + Leisure, 11 Jan. 2026
To prevent that, the body responds by constricting blood vessels and pumping your heart harder and faster.
—Alex Hutchinson, Outside, 15 Dec. 2025
While the underlying cause of blemishes and cystic acne is bacteria, a dose of chill can help relieve pain and decrease inflammation by constricting the blood vessels.
—Lauren Valenti, Vogue, 12 Dec. 2025
Make sure to swim in the waters off Princess Margaret Beach, where the late British royal would come to escape the socially constricting confines of Mustique island.
—Mark Ellwood, AFAR Media, 7 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for constricting
Noun
-
Hassan’s team instead squeezed a photon’s intensity and demonstrated real-time control, fluctuating between intensity and phase-squeezing by adjusting the silica’s position relative to the beams.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The task force called for increased and more stable funding for fireworks disposal, noting costs nearly doubled in 2024 amid a shrinking disposal industry and rising seizures.—
Daniel Lempres,
Sacbee.com,
28 Jan. 2026
-
The strategy involves shrinking membership, raising prices, cutting benefits and increasing transparency to restore profitability — along with the company’s reputation — after a series of hurdles over the last two years.—
Annika Kim Constantino,
CNBC,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
This selloff in software was a revaluation of what the market is willing to pay for SaaS companies, meaning price-to-earnings multiple ratios are compressing.—
Jeff Marks,
CNBC,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Sundance has always had a way of compressing time.—
Rena Ronson,
HollywoodReporter,
28 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Shares are battling multiple compression as investors grow less willing to pay a premium for each dollar of earnings.—
Natasha Abellard,
CNBC,
30 Jan. 2026
-
This is precisely what has occurred with SAP—multiple compression.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Anyone who’s survived to 2026 knows the upper class’ fictitious fantasies still carry real, wretched consequences for the rest of us, but Season 4 plays out those ongoing scenarios to the nth degree, while condensing them into an appreciable narrative arc.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
11 Jan. 2026
-
Campaigns for special elections are sprints, condensing what typically occurs over the better part of a year into no more than 56 days.—
Mark Pazniokas,
Hartford Courant,
6 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Then came the explosion of streamers followed by a constriction.—
Mia Galuppo,
HollywoodReporter,
22 Jan. 2026
-
The constriction leads to spikes in blood pressure and heightens a diabetic person’s risk of heart disease.—
Jyoti Madhusoodanan,
Scientific American,
16 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Supports Heart Health Magnesium and turmeric together may reduce the risk of heart disease by decreasing inflammation, improving circulation, and supporting cardiovascular function.—
Lindsay Curtis,
Verywell Health,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Back then, debasement was done by decreasing the amount of precious metals within gold and silver coins that were used as currency and increasing the amount of cheaper base metals, like copper.—
Davis Giangiulio,
CNBC,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Gilbert argues the change simply opens up the position to candidates with experience in government contracting, budgeting and other fiscal matters that are part of an inspector general’s purview.—
Douglas Hanks,
Miami Herald,
28 Jan. 2026
-
The company entered the specialty construction space by acquiring Staco, a fast-growing local electrical contracting firm, last September, according to a news release.—
Chris Higgins,
Kansas City Star,
27 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Constricting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/constricting. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
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