Definitions
- To hold back or prevent someone or something from doing something. - To limit or restrict someone's actions or behavior. - To control or manage one's emotions or reactions.
- To limit or restrict someone or something's freedom or ability to act. - To force someone or something to behave in a certain way. - To be compelled or obligated to do something.
List of Similarities
- 1Both words involve limiting or restricting something.
- 2Both words can refer to physical or non-physical limitations.
- 3Both words can be used in various contexts, such as personal, professional, or legal.
What is the difference?
- 1Focus: Restrain focuses on preventing or holding back someone or something from doing something, while constrain focuses on limiting or restricting someone or something's freedom or ability to act.
- 2Intensity: Restrain implies a more forceful action, while constrain can be less forceful and more subtle.
- 3Scope: Restrain can be used for both physical and non-physical limitations, while constrain is more commonly used for non-physical limitations.
- 4Usage: Restrain is more commonly used in personal or emotional contexts, while constrain is more commonly used in professional or legal contexts.
- 5Connotation: Restrain can have a positive connotation of preventing harm or danger, while constrain can have a negative connotation of limiting creativity or freedom.
Remember this!
Restrain and constrain are synonyms that both refer to limiting or restricting something. However, restrain focuses on preventing or holding back someone or something from doing something, while constrain focuses on limiting or restricting someone or something's freedom or ability to act. Additionally, restrain can be used for both physical and non-physical limitations, while constrain is more commonly used for non-physical limitations in professional or legal contexts.
