con·straint

(kən-strānt′)

1. The threat or use of force to prevent, restrict, or dictate the action or thought of others.

2. The state of being restricted or confined within prescribed bounds: soon tired of the constraint of military life.

3. One that restricts, limits, or regulates; a check: ignored all moral constraints in his pursuit of success.

4. Embarrassed reserve or reticence; awkwardness: "All constraint had vanished between the two, and they began to talk" (Edith Wharton).

[Middle English constreinte, from Old French, from feminine past participle of constraindre, to constrain; see constrain.]

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.

constraint

(kənˈstreɪnt)

1. compulsion, force, or restraint

2. repression or control of natural feelings or impulses

3. a forced unnatural manner; inhibition

4. something that serves to constrain; restrictive condition: social constraints kept him silent.

5. (Grammar) linguistics any very general restriction on a sentence formation rule

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

con•straint

(kənˈstreɪnt)

n.

1. limitation or restriction.

2. repression of natural feelings and impulses.

3. unnatural restraint in manner; embarrassment.

4. something that constrains.

5. the act of constraining.

6. the condition of being constrained.

[1350–1400; Middle English constreinte < Middle French, n. use of feminine past participle of constreindre; see constrain]

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Noun	1.	constraint - the state of being physically constrained; "dogs should be kept under restraint" restraint confinement - the state of being confined; "he was held in confinement" cage - something that restricts freedom as a cage restricts movement
	2.	constraint - a device that retards something's motion; "the car did not have proper restraints fitted" restraint air bag - a safety restraint in an automobile; the bag inflates on collision and prevents the driver or passenger from being thrown forward airbrake, dive brake - a small parachute or articulated flap to reduce the speed of an aircraft arrester, arrester hook - a restraint that slows airplanes as they land on the flight deck of an aircraft carrier band - a restraint put around something to hold it together brake - a restraint used to slow or stop a vehicle brake - anything that slows or hinders a process; "she wan not ready to put the brakes on her life with a marriage"; "new legislation will put the brakes on spending" brake pad - one of the pads that apply friction to both sides of the brake disk brake shoe, skid, shoe - a restraint provided when the brake linings are moved hydraulically against the brake drum to retard the wheel's rotation catch, stop - a restraint that checks the motion of something; "he used a book as a stop to hold the door open" chain - anything that acts as a restraint device - an instrumentality invented for a particular purpose; "the device is small enough to wear on your wrist"; "a device intended to conserve water" fastening, holdfast, fastener, fixing - restraint that attaches to something or holds something in place gag, muzzle - restraint put into a person's mouth to prevent speaking or shouting leash, tether, lead - restraint consisting of a rope (or light chain) used to restrain an animal ignition lock, lock - a restraint incorporated into the ignition switch to prevent the use of a vehicle by persons who do not have the key muzzle - a leather or wire restraint that fits over an animal's snout (especially a dog's nose and jaws) and prevents it from eating or biting life belt, safety belt, safety harness - belt attaching you to some object as a restraint in order to prevent you from getting hurt sea anchor, drogue - restraint consisting of a canvas covered frame that floats behind a vessel; prevents drifting or maintains the heading into a wind hamper, shackle, trammel, bond - a restraint that confines or restricts freedom (especially something used to tie down or restrain a prisoner) trammel - a restraint that is used to teach a horse to amble
	3.	constraint - the act of constraining; the threat or use of force to control the thoughts or behavior of others restriction, confinement - the act of keeping something within specified bounds (by force if necessary); "the restriction of the infection to a focal area" swaddling clothes - restrictions placed on the immature

constraint

noun

1. restriction, limitation, curb, rein, deterrent, hindrance, damper, check Their decision to abandon the trip was made because of financial constraints.

2. force, pressure, necessity, restraint, compulsion, coercion People are not morally responsible for that which they do under constraint or compulsion.

3. repression, reservation, embarrassment, restraint, inhibition, timidity, diffidence, bashfulness She feels no constraint in discussing sexual matters.

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

constraint

noun

1. Power used to overcome resistance:

coercion, compulsion, duress, force, pressure, strength, violence.

2. The act of limiting or condition of being limited:

circumscription, confinement, limitation, restraint, restriction.

3. Something that limits or restricts:

check, circumscription, cramp, curb, inhibition, limit, limitation, restraint, restriction, stricture, trammel.

Translations

Beschränkung

assujettissement contrainte

costrizione

begrenzing beperkinginperkingrandvoorwaarde

закрепощённость

constraint

[kənˈstreɪnt] N

1. (= compulsion) → coacción f, fuerza f
under constraint → obligado (a ello)

2. (= limit) → restricción f
budgetary constraints → restricciones presupuestarias

3. (= restraint) → reserva f, cohibición f
to feel a certain constraint → sentirse algo cohibido

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

constraint

[kənˈstreɪnt] n

(= restriction) → contrainte f

(= embarrassment) → gêne f

constraint

(= compulsion) → Zwang m

(= restriction) → Beschränkung f, → Einschränkung f; to place constraints on something → einer Sache (dat) → Zwänge auferlegen

(in manner etc) → Gezwungenheit f; (= embarrassment) → Befangenheit f

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

constraint

[kənˈstreɪnt] n no pl (compulsion) → costrizione f; (restraint) → limitazione f; (embarrassment) → imbarazzo, soggezione f