straitened

American  

[streyt-nd] / ˈstreɪt nd /

adjective

1. characterized by financial difficulty or limited means.

   His early death left his widow and five young children in straitened circumstances.

2. restricted or limited; narrow or confining.

   She released her album on the Internet as a way of avoiding the “straitened formats” of radio and TV, she said.

---

verb

1. the simple past tense and past participle of straiten.

Etymology

Origin of straitened

First recorded in 1520–30 straitened for def. 3; in 1600–10 straitened for defs. 1, 2; straiten ( def. ) + -ed ² ( def. ) for the adjective senses; straiten ( def. ) + -ed ¹ ( def. ) for the verb sense

Example Sentences

Young scientists are naturally reluctant to expose themselves to anti-science obloquy; the straitened condition of the national press has led to mass layoffs of journalists with the knowledge and skill to communicate scientific truths.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 12, 2025

But merchants and analysts said the dollarization boost has proven insufficient in the face of limited credit, a depreciating local currency, higher taxes, straitened public spending amid lower oil income, and rising utility bills.

From Reuters • Sep. 1, 2023

The overall stats are heavily influenced by the biggest clubs, but in straitened times any increase is an achievement.

From BBC • Aug. 4, 2023

A one-woman show like “Consent” is also relatively cheap to produce and tour, no small advantage in straitened times for the arts.

From New York Times • Dec. 1, 2022

There Glenn was raised in permanently straitened means, for his father never again found steady work.

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik