CONSTRAINS Synonyms: 95 Similar and Opposite Words

constrains

verb

present tense third-person singular of constrain

as in compels

to cause (a person) to give in to pressure constrained by conscience to tell only the truth

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as in regulates

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

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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 constrains Fiscal Dominance Changes The Objective Fiscal dominance describes a regime in which the scale of public debt and deficits constrains monetary policy. — Dave Birnbaum, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026 Advertisement The trouble with military hegemony The dominant role of Pakistan’s military further constrains political space. — Aqil Shah, Time, 17 Aug. 2026 In many ways, this constrains AI to human patterns of thinking. — IEEE Spectrum, 17 Aug. 2026 So, that really constrains the number in the House at the outset. — CBS News, 16 Aug. 2026 There are others, however, who disagree – arguing that the harms caused by gun deaths, drug abuse and overdose, and the spread of preventable disease require regulation that constrains or prohibits completely people’s freedom to choose. — Jen Cole Wright, The Conversation, 7 Aug. 2026 The City Charter governs and constrains the power of the mayor and the City Council, and the citizens must vote to change it. — Joseph Landers, Baltimore Sun, 6 Aug. 2026 Our region faces real and serious challenges, including gun violence, neighborhood disinvestment, growing wealth disparity, population stagnation and a fiscal burden that constrains public investment. — Andrea Sáenz, Chicago Tribune, 20 July 2026 The fact that Starlink PNT is limited to communication with a single satellite at a time also constrains performance, whereas receiving multiple satellite measurement signals from many different angles could improve its accuracy. — Andrew Cunningham, ArsTechnica, 11 May 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for constrains

Verb

Washington also opposed another streaming regulation, known as Bill 109, passed in Quebec last December, which compels streaming platforms to prioritize French-language content.

— Lex Harvey, CNN Money, 25 Aug. 2026
Frank’s ruling keeps the proposal to raise the homestead exemption up to $250,000 for Florida property owners on the ballot, but compels Attorney General James Uthmeier to rewrite parts of the plan.

— Romy Ellenbogen Herald, Miami Herald, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of compels

Verb

Niacinamide — a multi-functional ingredient that strengthens the skin barrier, regulates oil production, and calms and fades discoloration — is also in the mix.

— Claudia Fisher, PEOPLE, 29 Aug. 2026
There’s also research that indicates microplastics cause disruptions to our endocrine system, which regulates our hormones.

— Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of regulates

Verb

Coyote first hoodwinks and then forces Kevin into his lawsuit plans, taking Acme to task in a way the corporation, confident in its imperviousness, finds laughable.

— Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026
That forces them to interact with unknown adults that are outside the jurisdiction of the school.

— Michele Gile, CBS News, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of forces

Verb

Although the book contains a disclaimer saying some facts were changed, Palal argued that names, hotels and other details changed while the central account did not.

— Jonathan Landrum Jr, Chicago Tribune, 1 Sep. 2026
Seed butter contains nutrients naturally found in the whole seed, including protein, fiber, magnesium and other vitamins and minerals.

— Jo Ann Liguori, Flow Space, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of contains

Verb

However, the rotation of this filament clearly dominates how the galaxies within it spin, perhaps by funneling hydrogen gas along the dark-matter filament and onto the galaxies in a way that coerces their spin while providing further fuel for star formation.

— Keith Cooper, Space.com, 4 Dec. 2025
Haunted by the suspicious death of his ailing mother, Ali, a university professor, coerces his enigmatic gardener to execute a cold-blooded act of vengeance.

— Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 14 Nov. 2025

Definition of coerces

Verb

The following day, the state added him to its official register of terrorists and extremists, a designation that obliges Russian banks to freeze his assets.

— Susie Violet Ward, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
Zeus obliges, striking their ship with a thunderbolt that destroys it and kills every member of Odysseus’ crew except the king himself.

— Brianna Zigler, Entertainment Weekly, 20 July 2026

Definition of obliges

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constraining

constrains

constraint

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“Constrains.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/constrains. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of constrains

verb

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