This kind of restrictive legislation is bound to hobble the economy.
Source: tatoeba (1345424)
Restrictive
/ɹɪˈstɹɪktɪv/
Synonyms for "restrictive" (243 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (49)
Adjective(17 words)
academic silencingapopempticauthoritarian ruleautocratic decision makingbannablebegrudgingbinding clausebossierburdensomecapacity-reducingcapping policycircumscriptiveclosefistedcommunalistic policyconfiningconstrainingdefining
Noun(17 words)
arsenic limit standardbantingblinkeringblockadingbrakingcagingcappingcensoringcoercive reformcompliance driven designconflict-of-interest policycontract claim limitcordoningcorneringcorrallingcurbingdelimiting
Verb(3 words)
Strong matches (73)
Noun(23 words)
design constraintdesign-constraining criteriadietingdisallowingdisclaimingembargoingexclusionary disciplineexclusivistfastingfetteringforbiddinggagginggoverning bodyhamstringinghandcuffinghobblingimmuringimprisoninginterdictinglimit decisions
Adjective(20 words)
design-constrained projectdeterminativedietarydismal weathereconomic blockadeessentialexclusionaryexclusionary governancefinite resourcehawkishheavy administrationilliberalimpoverishedlanguage-impedinglimitinglimiting reactantlimiting termlimiting termsminimal legislationminimal materials
Related words (121)
Noun(45 words)
moderatingmodifying wordmore exclusivemore qualifyingmore regulatorymore restrictivemost unwelcomingno contact ordernoncommercial licensenoncompete clauseoverburdeningprohibitingprohibitionistqualifier termqualifying adjectivequalifying term conceptqualifying term examplequalifying term phrasequalifying term usagequarantining
Show 25 more words
quellingresponse-elimination strategyrestrainingrule setscotchingshacklingspecifyingstraiteningstraitjacketingstranglerstrangulatingsubduingsubjugatingsummative assessmentswedish exkluderateaching caveatthe less the bettertighteningtime-outtop down management styletrade regulatorytrade-offtradition based learningtrammellingwithholding care
Adjective(34 words)
monopolisticmuzzling speechnarrow aimnarrow-mindednarrowestnecessaryonerousoppressiveparental controlsprisonlikeprohibitorypuritanicalqualifying conditionqualifying modifierqualifying phrasequalifying statementqualifying termqualifying term clausequalifying termsregulatory framework
Show 14 more words
restricting termrigidscarcestsocial regressionstingierstrictstultifyingtied fundingtop-down decisiontransphobictyrannousuninvitingunladylikeunwelcoming reception
Determiner(1 words)
most state government elections
Adverb(1 words)
Verb(5 words)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: academic silencing, altering, apopemptic, arsenic limit standard, assuasive.
- Sentence evidence is available for restrictive, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from derived_reverse, moby, opengloss.
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 "restrictive".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "restrictive"
Keep "restrictive" 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 "restrictive" 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 "restrictive", 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 "restrictive" 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
4 entriesMore specific
8 entriesCollocations
6 entriesrestrictive clauserestrictive environmentrestrictive interpretationrestrictive measuresrestrictive policyrestrictive rules
Inflections
2 entriesmore restrictivemost restrictive
Derivations
3 entriesAntonyms
1 entriessimilar
13 entriesSample sentences
14 total sentences available.
I find the concept of Globish restrictive and unreal.
Source: tatoeba (3451653)
Life became very restrictive.
Source: tatoeba (5735659)
Restrictive practices can be damaging for industries.
Source: tatoeba (5939848)
Showing 4 of 14 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "restrictive"?
Closest matches include academic silencing, altering, apopemptic, arsenic limit standard, assuasive.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "restrictive"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.