straitened

[streyt-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.

Word History and Origins

Origin of straitened¹

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.

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If their circumstances are straitened, dreaming is free; Issa and Anton build an imaginary future for him on the basis of watching a dot move on a GPS map.

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Alfie may never realize his romantic fantasies, but his Romanticism transcends his straitened horizons.

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Nigeria is currently facing straitened economic times and many are desperate to find a way to boost their income.

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At the same time, with the country’s straitened economy, parties are reluctant to be seen to be making unfunded spending commitments on anything, including green initiatives.

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