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- pronunciation:
- k
 n
streIn
- features:
- Word Combinations (verb), Word Parts
| part of speech: |
transitive verb |
| inflections: |
constrains, constraining, constrained |
| definition 1: |
to keep within tight restrictions; confine.
The tight jacket constrained her movements.He thought that doing commercial art would constrain his creativity.
- synonyms:
- confine, curb, limit, restrict
- similar words:
- bind, enclose, leash, pinch
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| definition 2: |
to hold back; restrain.
The guards constrained the defiant prisoner.Modesty constrains him from boasting of his latest accomplishments.- synonyms:
- inhibit, restrain
- similar words:
- bind, encumber, repress, stifle
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| definition 3: |
to force or obligate by physical, moral, or other compulsion; compel; oblige.
His sense of duty constrained him to speak out.- synonyms:
- compel, impel, oblige
- similar words:
- bind, coerce, force, obligate, pressure, require
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| related words: |
bridle, circumscribe, control, determine, exact, hold, make, muzzle, narrow, persuade, pin down, restrain, stay, stem, stop, task, tie |
adverb + (v.)constrain
artificially,
effectively,
equally,
geographically,
greatly,
highly,
increasingly,
less,
narrowly,
necessarily,
rigidly,
seriously,
severely,
significantly,
similarly,
somewhat,
strongly,
thereby,
therefore,
thus,
tightly,
unduly
[See all][See only the most frequent]
(v.)constrain
+ noun
ability,
acquisition,
action,
autonomy,
availability,
behavior,
boundary,
budget,
capability,
capacity,
choice,
circumstance,
competition,
conduct,
consideration,
constitution,
creativity,
demand,
development,
discourse,
discretion,
effectiveness,
evolution,
expression,
extent,
freedom,
growth,
implementation,
lack,
limit,
limitation,
motion,
option,
output,
parameter,
potential,
production,
proportion,
regime,
requirement,
scope,
selection,
size,
storage,
structure,
supply
[See all][See only the most frequent]
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| derivations: |
constrainable (adj.), constrainingly (adv.), constrainer (n.) |
The word constrain
contains the following parts:
con-
Latin
prefix
that means with, together
  More about this word part:
The prefix con-
is an assimilated form of com- used before roots beginning with c, d, f, g, j, n, s, t, and v. See com-. Note: con-
is frequently an intensive prefix, as in " conceive
."
Example words:
conceive, concentrate, concentric, conclude, conclusion, condone, conduce, conducive, conduct, conductive, conduction, confer, conference, confidant, confide, confidence, confident, confine, confirm, conflict, confluence, conflux, conform, confuse, confusion, congener, congratulate, congregate, congress, conjecture, conjunct, conjunction, conjunctiva, connect, connote, conscript, conscription, consign, consonant, conspiracy, constant, constrain, construct, construction, contact, contain, container, context, continue, contract, conversant, convince, convict, conviction, convivial, convocation, convoke, inconceivable, inconsonant, inconspicuous, connotation, consequence, consequent
strict, string, strain
Latin
root
that means bind, tighten
Example words:
astringent, constrain, constrict, restrain, restraint, restrict, restriction, restrictive, strict, stricture, stringent
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