compel or force (someone) to follow a particular course of action: [with object and infinitive]:children are constrained to work in the way the book dictates
(as adjective constrained) appearing forced or overly controlled:he was acting in a constrained manner
severely restrict the scope, extent, or activity of:agricultural development is considerably constrained by climate
archaic bring about (something) by compulsion:Calypso in her caves constrained his stay
literary confine forcibly; imprison:the walls are high, the gates are strong, but true love never yet was thus constrained
