constrained

[ kuhn-streynd ]

adjective

1. forced, compelled, or obliged:

   a constrained confession.

2. stiff or unnatural; uneasy or embarrassed:

   a constrained manner.

constrained

/ kənˈstreɪnɪdlɪ; kənˈstreɪnd /

adjective

1. embarrassed, unnatural, or forced

   a constrained smile

Derived Forms

• constrainedly, adverb

Other Words From

• con·strain·ed·ly [k, uh, n-, strey, -nid-lee], adverb
• uncon·strained adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of constrained¹

First recorded in 1565–75; constrain + -ed ²

Example Sentences

But Trump’s transition moves on defense are seen by many observers as likely to be constrained by factors including the ethics adhered to by the military’s officer class, combined with the sheer weight of Pentagon bureaucracy.

From Los Angeles Times

Other aspects include, once those leaders are given temporary powers to represent us—we hand over our sovereignty to them for a temporary period to represent us—they’re constrained by checks and balances, by the rule of law, and by the protection of individual rights in order to ensure that, at the end of the day, our granting to them of our sovereignty as “we, the people,” is temporary and we get to take it back at the end of their term in office.

From Slate

Over the course of the first quarter of this century, the American presidency has accumulated ever more power, rendering the office increasingly less constrained by either Congress or the courts.

From Salon

When he first came into power in 2016, he was a political outsider, and, at least for a while, he surrounded himself with veteran political advisers and staff who showed him the ropes and constrained his actions.

From BBC

I think at least five or six of them are in a world where they have a very narrow set of social contacts with America, let alone the outside world, and their notion of reality and normality is highly constrained, sociologically.

From Slate

Related Words

• strained