as in squeezing
the act or process of reducing the size or volume of something by or as if by pressing
the constant constricting of the animal's throat had caused permanent damage
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in shrinking
to become smaller in size or volume through the drawing together of particles of matter
the vessel constricted, thereby reducing the flow of blood
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in compressing
to reduce in size or volume by or as if by pressing parts or members together
constricted the opening with a clamp
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of constricting
Emily Kelleher, InStyle, 12 Apr. 2026
Howard and her team got the company to redesign the uniform after about a year of trying, swapping the constricting top for a looser one.
—Starre Vartan, CNN Money, 16 Dec. 2025
Toddlers and babies especially might especially appreciate a break from their constricting seat, and a change in scenery, by talking a walk up and down the aisles with mom or dad.
—Sherri Gordon, Parents, 23 Oct. 2025
Its space is at once endless and constricting.
—Literary Hub, 20 Oct. 2025
Wildlife art can be confining, constricting, customary; contemporary artists are assuring its survival and vibrancy by breaking from the traditional.
—Chadd Scott, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2025
Culture Critic, Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2026
The long-sleeve top has a close fit without being constricting, and the wide-leg sweatpants have a drawstring waistband and two side pockets.
—Isabel Garcia, PEOPLE, 10 Apr. 2026
Ice rollers and cryo tools are best for reducing puffiness, calming inflammation and easing morning swelling by temporarily constricting blood vessels.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Kansas City Star, 8 Apr. 2026
Ice Rollers and Cryo Tools Best for puffiness, inflammation and morning swelling, ice rollers work by temporarily constricting blood vessels.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Apr. 2026
Ice Rollers and Cryo Tools Simple, affordable and surprisingly effective, ice rollers and cryo tools work by temporarily constricting blood vessels.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 8 Apr. 2026
But these designers have shown that the grid doesn’t have to be constricting.
—Edward Keegan, Chicago Tribune, 5 Apr. 2026
Long and baggy Bermudas have been the silhouette du jour for a minute now, a welcome alternative to constricting, itty-bitty Daisy Dukes.
—India Roby, Glamour, 23 Mar. 2026
That inconsistency is particularly striking in Florida, a state that has pushed to expand medical freedom for those who wish to avoid vaccines or fluoridated water, while constricting the rights of people in various stages of pregnancy.
—CNN Money, 16 Mar. 2026
Noun
This spring, trending styles are continuing to divert from slimmer, constricting fits, with many embracing an ultra-relaxed look that leaves room for comfort and experimentation.
—Emily Kelleher, InStyle, 12 Apr. 2026
Howard and her team got the company to redesign the uniform after about a year of trying, swapping the constricting top for a looser one.
—Starre Vartan, CNN Money, 16 Dec. 2025
Toddlers and babies especially might especially appreciate a break from their constricting seat, and a change in scenery, by talking a walk up and down the aisles with mom or dad.
—Sherri Gordon, Parents, 23 Oct. 2025
Its space is at once endless and constricting.
—Literary Hub, 20 Oct. 2025
Wildlife art can be confining, constricting, customary; contemporary artists are assuring its survival and vibrancy by breaking from the traditional.
—Chadd Scott, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2025
Verb
With all manner of industries constricting and AI threatening entry-level positions, many people have become delivery drivers, full-time or as an economically necessary side gig.
—Culture Critic, Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2026
The long-sleeve top has a close fit without being constricting, and the wide-leg sweatpants have a drawstring waistband and two side pockets.
—Isabel Garcia, PEOPLE, 10 Apr. 2026
Ice rollers and cryo tools are best for reducing puffiness, calming inflammation and easing morning swelling by temporarily constricting blood vessels.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Kansas City Star, 8 Apr. 2026
Ice Rollers and Cryo Tools Best for puffiness, inflammation and morning swelling, ice rollers work by temporarily constricting blood vessels.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Apr. 2026
Ice Rollers and Cryo Tools Simple, affordable and surprisingly effective, ice rollers and cryo tools work by temporarily constricting blood vessels.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 8 Apr. 2026
But these designers have shown that the grid doesn’t have to be constricting.
—Edward Keegan, Chicago Tribune, 5 Apr. 2026
Long and baggy Bermudas have been the silhouette du jour for a minute now, a welcome alternative to constricting, itty-bitty Daisy Dukes.
—India Roby, Glamour, 23 Mar. 2026
That inconsistency is particularly striking in Florida, a state that has pushed to expand medical freedom for those who wish to avoid vaccines or fluoridated water, while constricting the rights of people in various stages of pregnancy.
—CNN Money, 16 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for constricting
Noun
-
Concacaf is not the only confederation squeezing games into FIFA windows around the club calendar.—
Tamerra Griffin,
New York Times,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Hassan’s team instead squeezed a photon’s intensity and demonstrated real-time control, fluctuating between intensity and phase-squeezing by adjusting the silica’s position relative to the beams.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Hospitals also have struggled for decades with Medicaid rates that cover an ever-shrinking share of the cost of treating poor patients.—
Keith M. Phaneuf,
Hartford Courant,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Software headcount is shrinking.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
His music is, in the best sense, grown-up, proof that a gifted songwriter can tackle the headiest, heaviest topics, compressing a novel’s worth of ideas, intelligence, irony, urbanity, humor and ambivalence into four minutes.—
New York Times,
New York Times,
28 Apr. 2026
-
De Pablo notes that AI is compressing timelines dramatically.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
One paramedic began chest compressions, pushing hard and steady on the patient’s chest.—
Ciara McCarthy,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Plus, the textured shell helps resist scuffs, and the interior is thoughtfully laid out with mesh pockets and compression straps to keep everything in place.—
Chaise Sanders,
Travel + Leisure,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Step Back The core Pentagon automation technology for targeting is Palantir’s Maven Smart System, which allows military personnel to plan strikes by clicking, dragging, and dropping in a single program, condensing hours or days of work into minutes.—
Reed Albergotti,
semafor.com,
18 Mar. 2026
-
Organizers say condensing the South by Southwest Conference and Festival to one weekend for 2026 will increase discovery of new music as attendees from the tech leg of the conference can now partake in the concerts.—
Ramon Ramirez,
Austin American Statesman,
11 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
While Gold concurred that the ports will not be significantly impacted by the Iran war, the rising fuel costs due to the constriction of traffic through the Strait of Hormuz could eventually effect retailers and consumers.—
Glenn Taylor,
Footwear News,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Lungs Starting at around 9,000 feet, your lungs may begin to swell due to a constriction of blood vessels, which can cause fluid to leak and accumulate.—
Brad Stulberg,
Outside,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
These changes were to be achieved by increasing the consumption of fruits and vegetables, decreasing the consumption of meat and eggs, and substituting nonfat milk for whole milk.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
30 Apr. 2026
-
In addition, federal funding is decreasing.—
Kristina Rex,
CBS News,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
One exercise involved lightly pressing down on the abdomen in specified areas surrounding the belly button, while the other required contracting the hips in a bridge motion.—
Lindsey Leake,
NBC news,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Mellencamp grew up modestly but comfortably in the idyllic town of Seymour, Indiana, the son of a mother who was an artist and nascent beauty queen, and a father who worked a white-collar job with a local electrical contracting firm.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Constricting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/constricting. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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