constrained
Americanadjective
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forced, compelled, or obliged.
a constrained confession.
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stiff or unnatural; uneasy or embarrassed.
a constrained manner.
adjective
Other Word Forms
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.
But he acknowledged that it is "a very difficult thing to deliver" in an uncertain world, where "public finances are constrained" and politicians face "hard decisions".
From BBC ● Jul. 9, 2026
He did not expect "imminent improvement" and warned that sales were no longer "meaningfully constrained by a lack of supply" as the number of properties for sale ticked up in June.
From Barron's ● Jul. 9, 2026
Traditional engines are constrained by the Carnot Limit, which defines the maximum efficiency allowed by classical thermodynamics.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 5, 2026
First and foremost, they said, the new factories being built by chip makers to cope with high demand from artificial-intelligence hyperscalers will take about two years, keeping capacity constrained at least over 2027.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 1, 2026
Part of the answer is that actual humans experience a little more “friction” than marbles do, and the poorer they are, the more constrained their mobility usually is.
From "Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America" by Barbara Ehrenreich
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.
