There is a plan to restrict the use of cars in the city center.
Source: tatoeba (246178)
Restrict
/ɹɪˈstɹɪkt/
Synonyms for "restrict" (530 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (106)
Verb(22 words)
confinecurblimitastringebarredblockblockedboundboundedcanalisecappedcensoredcircumscribedclampedconditionedconfine at homeconfinedconstrainconstrainsconstricting
Show 2 more words
Noun(47 words)
abridgingadmin blockarsenic limit standardbanban relaxationbansbantingbarricadebarricadesbarricadingbirdcagebirdcagesblacklistingblinkeringblock signatureblockadesblockadingblocksbonded to earthbottleneck
Adjective(4 words)
Strong matches (159)
Verb(47 words)
Noun(70 words)
control overall forcecontrol structures lessoncontrollingcontrolscordoncordoningcordonscornerscorsetcorsetingcorsetscovenantcovenantscrampingcrampooncrimpcrop carrying capacitycrottlecurbingcurbs
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curfewdamsdecrease outputdefining worddelimitingdeprovisiondicedietdietingdietsdog muzzledowngradesdwarfsdykesearth groundedembargoembargoesembargoingencumberinges exclusivofencesfetterfetteringfettersfilteringfreezegarottesgategatesgatinggene regulatedgirdlesgroundgroundinggrounding adjectivegrounding conductorgrounding implementationgrounding systemgroundshalteringhamstringhandcuffhandicaphandicappinghandicapshate speech limitsheadlockshemminghemmingehems
Adjective(4 words)
Related words (265)
hold in custodyhold in restraintimmureimpedeimpoundimprisoninhibitkeepkeep from spreadingkeep inkeep in custodykeep in detentionkeep within boundsleavenlimitlocalizelocklotmajor inmake assignments
Show 61 more words
mark offmark out formewmew upminor inmitigatemoderatemodifymodulatenarrownullifyopposeordainpalliatepatentpenpen upportion offpoundpursuequalifyrailrail inrationreduceregisterregulateregulate byreinreserverestrainrestrict toretardsaddlescantscheduleseal upseasonsetset apartset asideset conditionsset limitsset offshackleshrinkshut inshut upsnapesoftenspecializespecialize instintstraitenstunttagtapertempertietightenwall in
Verb(70 words)
immobiliseimmobilizeimmobilizedimmobilizesimpairedimpedesimpingesimprisonedimprisonsincarceratedincarceratesinhibitedinhibitskenneledkennelledlassoedleashedlimitedlocaliselocalized
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manacledminimizenarrowednippedoppressesoverspecializespenalisepinionedpreventprohibitprécisingqualifiedqualifiesqualify a blanket rulequalifying wordquellsrationedregularizesrestrainedrestrainsrestrict rightsrigidifyingscantedscantsscopedshackledshutsqueezedstancheststiflesstintedstovepipedstraitensstrangledstrangulatesuffocateswaddledtetheredthrottlethrottledtightenedtightenstrammeltrammeledtrammelledtrappedunderfeedswithhold the capitalwithhold waterwon't
Noun(99 words)
immobilizingimprisoninginterdictskennellead limitleashleashesleashinglimit accesslimit behaviorlimit decisionslimit outingslimit phraselimitinglimiting adjectivelimitslimits conceptlocalizinglocksmanacle
Show 79 more words
manaclesmanaclingmoder humus formmonopolizingmore qualifyingmost governmentally controllednarrowingnarrowsnot groundedpadlockpaywallpigeonholingpremiseprivate company reportsprotective groundingqualify forqualifying adjectivequalifying term conceptqualifying term examplequalifying term phrasequalifying term usagerangerationrationsreefingreinrestrict dataroadblockingroadblocksromanian imobilizasanctionsandboxesscantingscopingscroogesshacklesshacklingshuttingsideliningsilossingle push designslowing growthstemstintingstintsstraightjacketstraightjacketsstraiteningstraitjacketstraitjacketingstraitjacketsstrangleholdsstranglesstrangulatingstuntstuntssubject a paragraph tosubjugatingsubsettapesteaching caveattethertetherstheta boundthrottlesthrottlingtiestighteningtourniquetstrammelingtrammellingtruncatingvalvingveto powervetoingweirswere exclusiveword banzones
Adjective(14 words)
immurednarrow aimnarrow historyoppressedqualifying statementqualifying termqualifying termsrestrictedsiloedstaunchstraitenedstraitjacketedsuffocatingunshared
Adverb(1 words)
modally qualify the results
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: confine, curb, limit, abate, abridge.
- Sentence evidence is available for restrict, 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 "restrict".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "restrict"
Keep "restrict" 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 "restrict" 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 "restrict", 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 "restrict" 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
14 entriesMore specific
11 entriesCollocations
6 entriesaccess restrictiondata restrictionrestricted arearestriction policyrestrictive measurestime restriction
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
3 entriesAntonyms
1 entriesSample sentences
13 total sentences available.
He feels this new law will restrict his freedom.
Source: tatoeba (289922)
Sperm bank regulations restrict a given donor to making sperm donations at only one facility and restrict the number of children that each donor can "father".
Source: tatoeba (1425813)
Please restrict your orders to what is in our catalog.
Source: tatoeba (3516375)
Showing 4 of 13 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "restrict"?
Closest matches include confine, curb, limit, abate, abridge.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "restrict"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.