constrict

C3O1N1S1T1R1I1C3T1
/kənˈstɹɪkt/

verb

To narrow, especially by application of pressure.

“constrict the airway”

Similar
inhibitcompresssqueezecompactcontractpressconstringenarrow
OriginLatin cōnstrictus ← Proto-Italic *strengō ← Proto-Indo-European *stréngʰeti →
UncommonScrabble 13
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Meanings

verbconstrict (third-person singular simple present constricts, present participle constricting, simple past and past participle constricted)

present singular third person constricts · participle present constricting · participle past constricted · past constricted

  1. ambitransitiveTo narrow, especially by application of pressure.

    constrict the airway

    2 more examples

    constrict blood vessels

    Clothing that is too tight can constrict blood flow.

  2. To coil around (prey) in order to asphyxiate it. (of a snake)

    The snake began to constrict its prey.

  3. figurativelyTo limit or restrict.

    Synonyms: inhibit

Synonyms & antonyms

verbTo limit or restrict.

Similar
inhibit

More synonyms by meaning

verbsqueeze or press together

Similar
compresssqueezecompactcontractpress
Broader
tighten

verbbecome tight or as if tight

Similar
constringenarrow
Broader
tighten
Also see
compactcompressconstringecontractnarrowpresssqueezetightenwind up

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*ḱe?
  2. Proto-Indo-European*ḱóm
  3. Proto-Italic*kom
  4. Proto-Italic*kom-
  5. Latincōn-
  6. Proto-Indo-European*streyg-
  7. Proto-Indo-European*strinégti
  8. Proto-Italic*stringō
  9. Proto-Indo-European*strengʰ-
  10. Proto-Indo-European*stréngʰeti
  11. Proto-Italic*strengō
  12. Latinstringō
  13. Latincōnstringō
  14. Latincōnstrictus
  15. Englishconstrict

Borrowed from Latin cōnstrictus (“compressed, contracted”), past participle of cōnstringō (“to draw or bind together; to compress”). Doublet of constrain.

More words from Latin

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Bulgarian свивам, стягам
  • свивам (svivam)to narrow
  • стягам (stjagam)to narrow
  • стеснявам (stesnjavam)to narrow
Czech zúžit
  • zúžitto narrow
Danish indsnævre
  • indsnævreto narrow
Finnish puristaa, supistaa
  • puristaato narrow
  • supistaato narrow
  • kuristaato narrow
  • surkastaato narrow
German einengen, verengen
  • einengento narrow
  • verengento narrow
Irish crap
  • crapto narrow
Latin praestringō
  • praestringōto narrow
Portuguese constringir
  • constringirto narrow
Spanish estrechar, constringir
  • estrecharto narrow
  • constringirto narrow
Turkish daralmak, sıkışmak
  • daralmakto narrow
  • sıkışmakto narrow
  • sıkmakto narrow
  • büzmekto narrow

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with constrict

conflictpickedstrictwickedpredictrestrictkickedaddictdepictlickedconvictPictinflictedictevictafflictnickedprickedbrickedabstrictchickedinvict
All rhymes →
Cite this entry
APA

constrict. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/constrict

MLA

“constrict.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/constrict. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “constrict,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/constrict.

Source: constrict on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.