constrained
Americanadjective
-
forced, compelled, or obliged.
a constrained confession.
-
stiff or unnatural; uneasy or embarrassed.
a constrained manner.
adjective
Other Word Forms
- constrainedly adverb
- unconstrained adjective
Etymology
Origin of constrained
Explanation
Something that's constrained is forced, unnatural and not very spontaneous — kind of like a linebacker trying to perform the ballet Swan Lake. Constrained contains the word strained for a reason. Mostly because anyone that's constrained is feeling a fair amount of strain because of it. In addition to referring to unnatural or uncharacteristic behavior, being constrained can also mean being held back or forced to do something you don't want to do. If your budget has taken a hit, for example, you may feel constrained financially. If you are on a diet, you may feel constrained by the Weight Watchers point system.
Vocabulary lists containing constrained
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
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Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
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Ash
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
It highlights that many of the ocean's fastest and most formidable predators may also be among the most physically constrained.
From Science Daily • Apr. 18, 2026
That in turns leads to more constrained, and more volatile, investment returns.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 13, 2026
In fairness to Caine, his position is genuinely constrained.
From Salon • Apr. 11, 2026
Oil prices rose after Wednesday’s plunge as shipping through the Strait of Hormuz remained largely constrained and Israeli attacks on Lebanon threatened a fragile truce.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 9, 2026
A constrained trio lingered after Rachel had climbed the stairs behind her husband.
From "The Witch of Blackbird Pond" by Elizabeth George Speare
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
