What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
constrain
Example
The budget constraints prevented us from hiring more staff. [constrain: verb]
Example
The artist felt constrained by the limited color palette. [constrained: adjective]
restrain
Example
The police officer had to restrain the suspect to prevent them from escaping. [restrain: verb]
Example
She had to restrain herself from yelling at her boss during the meeting. [restrain: reflexive verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Restrain is more commonly used than constrain in everyday language. Restrain is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while constrain is less common and often used in specific fields such as business or academia.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between constrain and restrain?
Constrain is typically associated with a more formal tone, while restrain can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
