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constrain - Meaning and Examples

Meaning of 'constrain' (Webster Dictionary)

1 . Constrain [ v. t.]
- To secure by bonds; to chain; to bond or confine; to hold tightly; to constringe.
- To bring into a narrow compass; to compress.
- To hold back by force; to restrain; to repress.
- To compel; to force; to necessitate; to oblige.
- To violate; to ravish.
- To produce in such a manner as to give an unnatural effect; as, a constrained voice.

Meaning of 'constrain' (Princeton's WordNet)

1 . constrain [ v]
Meaning (1):
- to close within bounds, or otherwise limit or deprive of free movement
Example in sentence:
  • About a dozen animals were held inside the stockade;
  • The illegal immigrants were held at a detention center;
  • The terrorists held the journalists for ransom;
  • This holds the local until the express passengers change trains
Meaning (2):
- compel to behave in a certain way
Example in sentence:
  • duty constrains one to act often contrary to one's desires or inclinations;
  • Social relations impose courtesy
Meaning (3):
- severely restrict in scope or extent
Example in sentence:
  • stiffen the regulations;
  • tighten the rules

Nearby Words:

con con- conacre conarium conation conative conatus concamerate concameration concatenate

See 'constrain' also in:

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