constraintnoun
uk/kənˈstreɪnt/us/kənˈstreɪnt/C2 [ C ] something that controls what you do by keeping you within particular limits:
The constraints of politeness wouldn't allow her to say what she really thought about his cooking.
Financial constraints on the company are preventing them from employing new staff.
[ U ] formal unnatural behaviour that is sometimes the result of forcing yourself to act in a particular way:
She tried to appear friendly, but her constraint was obvious.
under constraint formal
If you do something under constraint, you do it only because you have been forced to:
They confessed, but only under severe constraint.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Limiting and restricting
- box sb in
- chain
- circumscribe
- clamp down on sth
- clampdown
- curtail
- damage limitation
- debilitate
- delimit
- delimitation
- hamstring
- hedge
- infringe
- muzzle
- non-proliferation
- qualification
- ration
- rationing
- restrain
- stabilizer
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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
Self-control and moderation
Duty, obligation and responsibility