Thesaurus: constraint

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Definitions

1. n. The act of constraining, or the state of being constrained; that which compels to, or restrains from, action; compulsion; restraint; necessity.
2. n. the state of being physically constrained
3. n. a device that retards something's motion
4. n. the act of constraining; the threat or use of force to control the thoughts or behavior of others
5. The act of constraining, or the state of being constrained; that which compels to, or restrains from, action; compulsion; restraint; necessity. Long imprisonment and hard constraint. Spenser. Not by constraint, but bDryden. Syn. -- Compulsion; violence; necessity; urgency. -- Constraint, Compulsion. Constraint implies strong binding force; as, the constraint of necessity; the constraint of fear. Compulsion implies the exertion of some urgent impelling force; as, driven by compulsion. The former prevents us from acting agreeably to our wishes; the latter forces us to act contrary to our will. Compulsion is always produced by some active agent; a constraint may be laid upon us by the forms of civil society, or by other outward circumstances. Crabb.
6. The act of constraining, or the state of being constrained;that which compels to, or restrains from, action; compulsion;restraint; necessity.Long imprisonment and hard constraint. Spenser.Not by constraint, but bDryden.
7. n:100 n. the state of being physically constrained n. the act of constraining; the threat or use of force to control the thoughts or behavior of others