Antonyms for constraint
| Grammar : Noun |
| Spell : kuhn-streynt |
| Phonetic Transcription : kənˈstreɪnt |
Definition of constraint
Origin :- late 14c., "distress, oppression," from Old French constreinte "binding, constraint, compulsion" (Modern French contrainte), fem. noun from constreint, past participle of constreindre, from Vulgar Latin *constrinctus, from Latin constrictus (see constrain). Meaning "coercion, compulsion" is from 1530s.
- noun force
- noun shyness
- noun restriction
- The lawyer's face sobered, and his tone as he answered was tinged with constraint.
- Extract from : « Within the Law » by Marvin Dana
- But then there was constraint in the correspondence—it was submitted to her mother.
- Extract from : « Night and Morning, Complete » by Edward Bulwer-Lytton
- But, placid as she was, my mother was authoritative, and could not endure any kind of constraint.
- Extract from : « My Double Life » by Sarah Bernhardt
- Vere felt that somehow her eager suggestion had deepened the constraint.
- Extract from : « A Spirit in Prison » by Robert Hichens
- At length the clerk came up to him with awkward manners and a look of constraint.
- Extract from : « The Christian » by Hall Caine
- "She is going to Bishopsgate Street," thought Glory, and they separated with constraint.
- Extract from : « The Christian » by Hall Caine
- When with him she was under a constraint as inexplicable to her as it was annoying.
- Extract from : « A Forest Hearth: A Romance of Indiana in the Thirties » by Charles Major
- He paused, and was awkwardly conscious of constraint in the silence which ensued.
- Extract from : « The Market-Place » by Harold Frederic
- But if you will not do it willingly, you shall do it from constraint.
- Extract from : « The Epistles of St. Peter and St. Jude Preached and Explained » by Martin Luther
- There was no confusion, not even a semblance of constraint about her.
- Extract from : « The Martins Of Cro' Martin, Vol. I (of II) » by Charles James Lever
Synonyms for constraint
- a must
- arrest
- bashfulness
- captivity
- check
- circumscription
- coercion
- compulsion
- confinement
- constrainment
- cramp
- curb
- damper
- detention
- deterrent
- diffidence
- driving
- duress
- embarrassment
- goad
- hang-up
- hindrance
- humility
- impelling
- impulsion
- inhibition
- limitation
- modesty
- monkey
- motive
- necessity
- no-no
- pressure
- repression
- reservation
- reserve
- restraint
- spring
- spur
- suppression
- timidity
- violence
Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019