LIMITS Synonyms: 72 Similar and Opposite Words

limits 1 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of limit

as in restricts

to set bounds or an upper limit for limit the note to a few words

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in defines

to mark the limits of adjectives limit the meanings of nouns

Synonyms & Similar Words

limits

2 of 2

noun

plural of limit

as in limitations

a real or imaginary point beyond which a person or thing cannot go there was no limit to the number of challenges they faced

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in heights

the most extreme or advanced point those bratty kids have pushed my patience to the limit

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 limits

Verb

Physical stress limits how fast metal or carbon-fiber rotors can spin without tearing apart. — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 28 Aug. 2026 Diederik van Dommelen, Rotterdam’s head of financial affairs, told the Art Newspaper the ongoing criminal investigation limits what the city can disclose. — George Nelson, ARTnews.com, 28 Aug. 2026 Consequently, Aydemir stresses that silk denim is aimed more at premium and fashion-forward segments rather than utility markets, which inherently limits its range of applications. — Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 27 Aug. 2026 In California, e-bikes and e-motorcycles are divided into different classifications, which limits who can ride them and how. — Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026 Dementia limits a person’s ability to live and function independently. — Hillary Lum, The Conversation, 27 Aug. 2026 For example, a digital health campaign in Nepal delivered critical stroke information millions of times across platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and TikTok in a country where mountainous terrain severely limits physical healthcare access. — Thu T. Nguyen, Baltimore Sun, 27 Aug. 2026 This severely limits the search parameters in which dark photons could exist — so much so that many cosmological observations rule out the existence of dark photons. — Robert Lea, Space.com, 21 Aug. 2026 To find out whether a lack of pollen is what limits Cassiope’s seed production, the team decided to give some of the flowers extra help. — Denise Hruby, Miami Herald, 21 Aug. 2026

Noun

This award recognized the engineering that helped concrete arch construction move past limits that had held back similar projects for decades. — Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 28 Aug. 2026 Depleted underground aquifers and limits on the state’s draw of water from Lake Michigan could constrain data center growth. — David Greising, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026 Colleges put limits on the right of students and teachers to express points of view that departed from this new apparent consensus. — Charles Finch, The Atlantic, 28 Aug. 2026 However, these are just the minimum requirements, and the Insurance Information Institute states that experts recommend higher limits. — Mckynzie Steward, AJC.com, 28 Aug. 2026 The company has previously touted its internal safeguards for younger users, including deposit limits and warnings sent to users with patterns of risky behavior. — Marshall Cohen, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2026 Gardner provides water, wastewater, and electric utilities for residential and commercial properties within city limits. — Taylor O'Connor 28, Kansas City Star, 28 Aug. 2026 And because the land is not shared with guests from other lodges, there are no areas that are off-limits. — Paul Jebara, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 Aug. 2026 The funnel of foreign athletes to American colleges, which had experienced steady growth for years, is beginning to show its limits. — Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 27 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for limits

Verb

If a debt collector has obtained the legal authority to levy your bank account, the bank typically restricts your access to the funds covered by the order.

— Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 27 Aug. 2026
The measure also restricts what evidence California judges can review.

— Andrew Graham, Sacbee.com, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of restricts

Verb

What defines these destinations is not just their beauty, but their balance.

— Sofia Markovich, Travel + Leisure, 25 Aug. 2026
Keeping Pluto a dwarf planet better defines what a planet is and prevents an awkward situation in the future in which schoolchildren (and the rest of us) would have to remember upwards of 100 planets.

— Robert Lea, Space.com, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of defines

Noun

According to a statement by the team, the approach does have limitations.

— Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 27 Aug. 2026
The authors also noted some study limitations – including potential unvalidated diagnoses and limited socioeconomic and lifestyle data – as well as the associations not proving causation.

— Sara Moniuszko, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of limitations

Noun

The zoning change would be necessary to build a development of that scale because local zoning guidelines for the downtown area cap building heights at four stories.

— Alexandra Murphy, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026
Now, 15 years later, Cook has catapulted the company to stratospheric heights by forging his own path.

— Lisa Eadicicco, CNN Money, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of heights

Verb

Places like Los Angeles and Oakland have high permit fees and strict zoning that often confines cans to industrial areas.

— Alexandra Harrell, Sourcing Journal, 9 Feb. 2026
In an industry that often confines its actors, especially women and especially Black women, Hall continues to carve a path defined by risk, depth and courage.

— Clayton Davis, Variety, 14 Nov. 2025

Definition of confines

Verb

With the sprightly energy of a schoolboy, Jean-Paul Doron bounds into an empty creek, his red suede shoes scraping pale rocks.

— Dominique Soguel, Christian Science Monitor, 14 Aug. 2026
Over a century later, the Himalayan blackberry has spread far beyond the modest backyard bounds its importers envisioned, opting instead to take over indiscriminately and displace the native trailing blackberry (Rubus ursinus) in the process.

— The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 25 June 2026

Definition of bounds

Noun

Yet even as his tenure enters its countdown, Duffy continues to lead a critical fight over the regulatory boundaries of derivatives markets.

— , CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
The boundaries were first tested by radio stations, with LBC and TalkRadio featuring more political presenters, including politicians.

— The Week UK, TheWeek, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of boundaries

Noun

As Moore piloted a research boat last month, the largest Great Lake was calm and pancake flat, its water so clear the bottom could be seen at multiple depths.

— Michael Hawthorne, Chicago Tribune, 23 Aug. 2026
The depths of all four are consistent with fractures and voids documented at nearby sites.

— Nolan Roth, Scientific American, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of depths

Browse Nearby Words

limitlessness

limits

limn

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Limits.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/limits. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of limits

verb

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

conscientious

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Popular in Wordplay

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Games & Quizzes