Excessive reliance on monetary policy in an attempt to curb inflation could unnecessarily constrain credit and hence business.
Source: tatoeba (65703)
Constrain
/kənˈstɹeɪn/
Synonyms for "constrain" (321 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (65)
Verb(11 words)
Noun(11 words)
ban relaxationbirdcagebottleneckbottlenecksboundingboundsbox methodcageschecks on powerclampsconfines
Adjective(2 words)
binding legal ruleblinkered
Strong matches (96)
Verb(18 words)
Noun(16 words)
Adjective(1 words)
cribcrimpcrowdcrushcurbcurtaildampdampende emphasizede-emphasizedeadendeceleratedecreedemanddenydeprivedetaindictatediminishdisallow
Show 41 more words
distressdomptdownplaydrivedullencageencloseenforceenjoinextenuatefence inforcegoverngrieveguardhavehem inhinderholdhold at bayhold backhold downhold fasthold inhold in checkhold in custodyhold in leashhold in restrainthold uphurtimmureimpelimpoundimprisonincarcerateinhibitinjureinsist uponinternintimidatejail
Related words (160)
jamjugkeepkeep backkeep fromkeep inkeep in checkkeep in custodykeep in detentionkeep under controlkeep within boundslaylay under restraintlenifylessenlightenlockmakemewmew up
Show 69 more words
mitigatemoderatemodulatenecessitateobligeobtundpainpalliatepenpen upplay downpoundprescribepresspressureprisonprohibitpullpull inpushquodrailrail inreducereduce the temperaturerefrainreinrein inrepressrestrainrestrictretardretrenchscrewseal upset backshackleshotgunshut inshut upslackenslow downsmothersnubsobersober downsoftensquabsquashsqueezesquishstiflestraitensubduesuppresstake the edge offtametempertietone downtrammeltune downunderplayurgeuse force uponwall inweakenwithholdwrench
Noun(35 words)
kennellead limitleashleashinglimit behaviorlimit decisionslimit outingslimit phraselimitinglimiting adjectivelimitslimits conceptmanaclingnarrowingpadlockpenalizingpigeonholingplaguingrangerestrict data
Show 15 more words
Verb(30 words)
kenneledlimitlocalizedmanacledmummifiesnarrowedobligateobligerregularizeregularizedregularizesrestrainrestrictrestrict decisionsrestrict privilegesrestrict rightsrestrictingrestrictsrigidifyingselar
Adjective(6 words)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: confine, enforce, abate, abridge, abstain.
- Sentence evidence is available for constrain, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, moby, derived_reverse, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "constrain".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "constrain"
Keep "constrain" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "constrain" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "constrain", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "constrain" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
17 entriesboundcoercive measurecompelconfineconstraintdisabledisenableincapacitatelimitlimitationobligateobligerestrictrestrictionrestrictive actionthrottle
Showing 16 of 17 words.
More specific
9 entriesbox constraintbudget capequality constraintinequality constraintmandateobligationoperational limitordertime cap
Collocations
6 entriesconstrain costsconstrain dataconstrain growthconstrain movementconstrain optionsconstrain resources
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
3 entriesSample sentences
10 total sentences available.
Changes in water availability, both episodic and long-lasting, will constrain different forms of energy production.
Source: tatoeba (3651128)
What human trespass would constrain thy power, O Zeus?
Source: tatoeba (5095219)
Scarce out of sight of Sicily, they set / their sails to sea, and merrily ploughed the main, / with brazen beaks, when Juno, harbouring yet / within her breast the ever-ranking pain, / mused thus: "Must I then from the work refrain, / nor keep this Trojan from the Latin throne, / baffled, forsooth, because the Fates constrain?"
Source: tatoeba (6778936)
Showing 4 of 10 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "constrain"?
Closest matches include confine, enforce, abate, abridge, abstain.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "constrain"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.