constrain

[kuhn-streyn]

verb (used with object)

1. to force, compel, or oblige.

   He was constrained to admit the offense.

   Synonyms: coerce

2. to confine forcibly, as by bonds.

   Synonyms: bind, check
   Antonyms: free

3. to repress or restrain.

   Cold weather constrained the plant's growth.

constrain

/ kənˈstreɪn /

verb

1. to compel or force, esp by persuasion, circumstances, etc; oblige

2. to restrain by or as if by force; confine

Other Word Forms

• constrainable adjective
• constrainer noun
• constrainingly adverb
• nonconstraining adjective
• unconstrainable adjective
• unconstraining adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of constrain¹

1275–1325; Middle English constrei ( g ) nen < Anglo-French, Middle French constrei ( g ) n- (stem of constreindre ) < Latin constringere. See con-, strain ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of constrain¹

C14: from Old French constreindre, from Latin constringere to bind together, from stringere to bind

Example Sentences

Whilst the former PM waged war with unions and state-backed industry, he said the Tories today should look to rein in the "lanyard classes" running government bodies "constraining the growth of enterprise".

From BBC

The issue is what the uniform represents, and the poorly constrained rage within the man wearing it that it gives agency to seep out.

From Salon

It is an argument that quite a few Labour MPs make, mostly in private: that this government has allowed itself to become too constrained by Treasury orthodoxy.

From BBC

Burnham said: "I believe it's right to go all the way and have a deputy leader that is not in the government and thus less constrained by collective responsibility."

From BBC

They include an innovative fuel system in a ship whose dimensions were constrained by small harbours, Covid, Brexit, management changes and poor decisions which left "legacy challenges throughout the whole build cycle".

From BBC

Related Words

• bind 
• constrict 
• curb 
• hold down 
• inhibit 
• necessitate 
• stifle