constrained

con·strain

 (kən-strān′)

tr.v. con·strained, con·strain·ing, con·strains

1.

a. To keep within certain limits; confine or limit: "Legislators ... used the power of the purse to constrain the size of the military" (Julian E. Zelizer).

b. To inhibit or restrain; hold back: "She noticed her mother blushing and acting somewhat constrained in her conversation with the grandmother" (David Huddle).

2. To compel by physical, moral, or circumstantial force; oblige: felt constrained to object to his behavior.

3. To produce in a forced or inhibited manner: "This smile seemed to touch something off in her ... and playfully she constrained her own roguish smile" (Naeem Murr).

---

[Middle English constreinen, from Old French constraindre, constraign-, from Latin cōnstringere, to restrain, compress : com-, com- + stringere, to bind, press together; see streig- in Indo-European roots.]

---

con·strain′a·ble adj.

con·strain′ed·ly (-strā′nĭd-lē) adv.

con·strain′er n.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

constrained

(kənˈstreɪnd)

adj

embarrassed, unnatural, or forced: a constrained smile.

constrainedly adv

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

con•strained

(kənˈstreɪnd)

adj.

1. compelled.

2. stiff; uneasy: a constrained manner.

[1565–75]

con•strain′ed•ly, adv.

Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.

Thesaurus

Adj.

1.

constrained - lacking spontaneity; not natural; "a constrained smile"; "forced heartiness"; "a strained smile" strained, forced affected, unnatural - speaking or behaving in an artificial way to make an impression

Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

constrained

adjective forced, reserved, guarded, inhibited, subdued, unnatural, reticent I realised, from his constrained smile, that he resented what I was saying.

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

constrained

adjective

Characterized by embarrassment and discomfort:

awkward, uncomfortable, uneasy.

The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Translations

constrained

[kənˈstreɪnd] ADJ [atmosphere] → constrictivo; [voice, manner, smile] → constreñido

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

constrained

[kənˈstreɪnd] adj

(= restrained) [person] → contraint(e), gêné(e)

(= bound) to feel constrained to do sth → se sentir obligé(e) de faire qch

(= limited) [resources] → restreint(e)

Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

constrained

adj (= forced) → gezwungen; to feel constrained by something → sich durch etw eingeengt sehen; to be/feel constrained to do something → gezwungen sein/sich gezwungen sehen, etw zu tun

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

constrained

[kənˈstreɪnd] adj (awkward) → forzato/a
to feel/be constrained to do sth → sentirsi/essere costretto/a a fare qc

Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995