Constraint vs. Restraint — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on October 5, 2023
Constraint refers to a limitation or restriction, while Restraint denotes self-control or a means to hold back.
Difference Between Constraint and Restraint
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Constraint often signifies a restriction or limitation, potentially imposed by external factors or circumstances. In contrast, Restraint typically suggests a deliberate holding back, often rooted in self-control or external controls.
For example, a budget can be a constraint for a project, setting limits on spending. Conversely, restraint might refer to the discipline of sticking to that budget, even when tempted to overspend.
Constraints might manifest as hurdles to be overcome or parameters to be worked within. Restraint, meanwhile, can indicate a conscious choice or a physical means of control.
Understanding both concepts is crucial in various contexts. While constraints can define boundaries or scope, restraint ensures discipline, moderation, or containment within those boundaries.
Comparison Chart
Definition
Limitation or restriction
Self-control or a means to hold back
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Nature
Often external or circumstantial
Can be internal (self-control) or external (physical control)
Usage
Contexts with limited resources or parameters
Contexts requiring moderation or deliberate containment
Examples
Budget limits, time constraints
Avoiding overeating, using seatbelts
Grammar
Typically used as a noun indicating restriction
Used both as a noun (a controlling measure) and a verb (to hold back)
Compare with Definitions
Constraint
A limitation or boundary.
Time was a major constraint in completing the project.
Restraint
An influence controlling action or expression.
Legal restraints kept the company from pursuing the merger.
Constraint
A force that restricts or confines.
Financial constraints affected the company's expansion plans.
Restraint
Modesty or reserve in behavior.
She spoke with restraint, choosing her words carefully.
Constraint
Circumstantial restriction.
Geographical constraints impacted the survey's reach.
Restraint
Control over one's impulses.
She showed remarkable restraint in a heated argument.
Constraint
Restriction on freedom or action.
Cultural constraints often influence artistic expressions.
Restraint
A device to limit movement.
The patient was put in restraints to prevent self-harm.
Constraint
A condition of limitation.
Lack of equipment became a constraint in research.
Restraint
The act of holding back.
He exercised restraint in spending despite temptations.
Constraint
The threat or use of force to prevent, restrict, or dictate the action or thought of others.
Restraint
The act of restraining
Police restraint of the suspect.
Constraint
The state of being restricted or confined within prescribed bounds
Soon tired of the constraint of military life.
Restraint
The condition of being restrained, especially the condition of losing one's freedom
A suspect held in restraint.
Constraint
One that restricts, limits, or regulates; a check
Ignored all moral constraints in his pursuit of success.
Restraint
An influence that inhibits or restrains
"If the enemy could be defined as radically evil, then the restraints of morality did not apply" (James Carroll).
Constraint
Embarrassed reserve or reticence; awkwardness
"All constraint had vanished between the two, and they began to talk" (Edith Wharton).
Restraint
A device or other means of restraining movement
A child restraint in a car.
Constraint
Something that constrains; a restriction.
Restraint
Control of the expression of one's feelings; constraint
Cursed without restraint.
Constraint
An irresistible force or compulsion.
Restraint
(countable) something that restrains, ties, fastens or secures
Make sure all the restraints are tight.
Constraint
The repression of one's feelings.
Restraint
(uncountable) control or caution; reserve
Try to exercise restraint when talking to your boss.
Constraint
(mathematics) A condition that a solution to an optimization problem must satisfy.
Restraint
The act or process of restraining, or of holding back or hindering from motion or action, in any manner; hindrance of the will, or of any action, physical or mental.
No man was altogether above the restrains of law, and no man altogether below its protection.
Constraint
(databases) A linkage or other restriction that maintains database integrity.
Restraint
The state of being restrained.
Constraint
The act of constraining, or the state of being constrained; that which compels to, or restrains from, action; compulsion; restraint; necessity.
Long imprisonment and hard constraint.
Not by constraint, but by my choice, I came.
Restraint
That which restrains, as a law, a prohibition, or the like; limitation; restriction.
For one restraint, lords of the world besides.
Constraint
The state of being physically constrained;
Dogs should be kept under restraint
Restraint
The of act controlling by restraining someone or something;
The unlawful restraint of trade
Constraint
A device that retards something's motion;
The car did not have proper restraints fitted
Restraint
Discipline in personal and social activities;
He was a model of polite restraint
She never lost control of herself
Constraint
The act of constraining; the threat or use of force to control the thoughts or behavior of others
Restraint
The state of being physically constrained;
Dogs should be kept under restraint
Restraint
A rule or condition that limits freedom;
Legal restraints
Restraints imposed on imports
Restraint
Lack of ornamentation;
The room was simply decorated with great restraint
Restraint
A device that retards something's motion;
The car did not have proper restraints fitted
Common Curiosities
What does constraint mean?
Constraint refers to a limitation or restriction, often due to external factors.
Is a budget a constraint or restraint?
A budget can be seen as a constraint, but sticking to it requires restraint.
Can a physical device be a restraint?
Yes, devices like handcuffs or seatbelts are physical restraints.
Can constraints be positive?
Yes, constraints can sometimes lead to creative solutions or prioritization of tasks.
Can restraint be voluntary?
Yes, restraint can be a voluntary act of self-control.
Is restraint always a good thing?
While restraint can be beneficial, excessive restraint might hinder expression or action.
How are constraints typically encountered in projects?
Projects often have constraints like time, budget, and resources.
How does restraint differ from constraint?
While constraint denotes a limitation, restraint suggests self-control or a means to hold something back.
Why is restraint important in certain professions?
In professions like healthcare or law enforcement, restraint can ensure safety, ethics, and professionalism.
How can one practice better restraint?
Mindfulness, awareness, and setting clear boundaries can help in practicing better restraint.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
