What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
restrain
Example
The police officer had to restrain the suspect from running away. [restrain: verb]
Example
I had to restrain myself from eating the whole cake. [restrain: verb]
constrain
Example
The budget constraints prevented us from hiring more employees. [constrain: noun]
Example
The company's policies constrained our ability to innovate. [constrained: past participle]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Restrain and constrain are both commonly used words in English language, but restrain is more versatile and can be used in personal or emotional contexts, while constrain is more commonly used in professional or legal contexts.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between restrain and constrain?
Constrain is generally considered more formal than restrain, and is often used in professional or legal contexts where precise language is required.
