constrained
Americanadjective
-
forced, compelled, or obliged.
a constrained confession.
-
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.
“Bottom line for the market: Gulf supply remains severely constrained, Saudi’s bypass is no longer the full solution it looked like in March, and the structural tightness is still very much intact.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026
Over the next three decades, sea level rise pathways are relatively well constrained, making this period especially important for long-range adaptation and infrastructure planning.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 23, 2026
“Copper fundamentals remain strong, with record prices during the period reflecting robust demand and an increasingly constrained supply outlook,” Chief Executive Ivan Arriagada said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 15, 2026
The company anticipates that capacity and infrastructure will only become more constrained going forward as AI demand increases.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 9, 2026
It was a packing problem, obviously constrained by the dimensions of the space.
From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee
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.
