constraint

/kənˈstreɪnt/
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A limit or pressure that reduces what is possible or makes behavior less free.

Examples

  • Budget constraints forced us to reduce the scope.
  • Is time the main constraint on the project?
  • She spoke with obvious constraint in front of the officials.
  • The design works within strict safety constraints.
  • Her smile showed the constraint she was trying to hide.

Similar words

restraint
curb
awkwardness
boundary
self-consciousness
coercion
hindrance
restraint
inhibition
restriction

Meanings

Limit on what is possible

noun
planning
neutral
Something that limits what can be done or keeps an activity within fixed conditions.

Examples

  • Budget constraints forced us to reduce the scope.
  • Is time the main constraint on the project?
  • The design works within strict safety constraints.
  • Water scarcity places a serious constraint on farming.
  • We found a solution despite the technical constraints.

Similar words

Forced or unnatural restraint

noun
social
formal
Formal control, pressure, or self-consciousness that makes behavior feel forced rather than natural.

Examples

  • She spoke with obvious constraint in front of the officials.
  • The interview felt stiff and full of constraint.
  • He signed the statement under constraint.
  • Without social constraint, their conversation became warmer.
  • Her smile showed the constraint she was trying to hide.

Similar words

Etymology

Recorded in English from the late 1300s, from Old French constreinte, meaning a bond, restriction, or obligation. It is related to Latin constringere, “to bind tightly.”

FAQ

What does constraint mean?

A constraint is usually a limit on what can be done. It can also mean pressure or restraint that makes behavior unnatural.

What is a constraint on something?

A constraint on something limits its range, growth, or freedom of action.

What does under constraint mean?

To act under constraint is to act because pressure or force leaves little real choice.

Is constraint countable?

The practical-limit sense is countable, as in “time constraints.” The behavior sense is usually uncountable.

What are common synonyms for constraint?

Common synonyms include restriction, limitation, restraint, and curb.

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