constringe: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2 - ProficientFormal, Literary, Technical/Medical
Quick answer
What does “constringe” mean?
to cause to contract or shrink.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
to cause to contract or shrink; to compress tightly.
In extended use, it can mean to restrict, limit, or confine something, especially figuratively.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The word is equally rare in both varieties. No significant usage differences exist.
Connotations
Slightly archaic or learned in both varieties.
Frequency
Extremely low-frequency word in both British and American English.
Grammar
How to Use “constringe” in a Sentence
[Subject] constringes [Direct Object]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “constringe” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The physician explained how the medication would constringe the capillaries.
- A sense of dread began to constringe her chest.
American English
- The cold air seemed to constringe every pore on his skin.
- New regulations threatened to constringe the flow of capital.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used. Possibly in very formal reports describing restrictive market forces.
Academic
Used in literary analysis, philosophy (e.g., constricting ideas), and medical/biological texts describing physiological processes.
Everyday
Virtually never used in everyday conversation.
Technical
Used in medicine (e.g., drugs that constringe blood vessels) and some engineering contexts (e.g., materials that constringe under pressure).
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “constringe”
- Confusing it with 'constrain' (to restrict or limit action) or 'constrict' (its more common synonym). Using it in informal contexts sounds unnatural.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Constringe' and 'constrict' are near-synonyms meaning to compress or tighten physically. 'Constrict' is far more common. 'Constrain' means to limit or restrict someone's actions or choices, and is not primarily physical.
No, it is a very low-frequency, formal word. Learners are unlikely to encounter it outside of specific literary or technical texts.
Yes, though rarely. It can describe feelings (e.g., fear constringing the heart) or abstract concepts (e.g., laws that constringe freedom), giving a vivid sense of tight compression.
It is exclusively a transitive verb. It requires a direct object (e.g., 'The cold constringed his fingers').
to cause to contract or shrink.
Constringe is usually formal, literary, technical/medical in register.
Constringe: in British English it is pronounced /kənˈstrɪndʒ/, and in American English it is pronounced /kənˈstrɪndʒ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A cold wind constringed the landscape.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'string' in the middle: a string pulled tight *constructs* and *constringes* whatever it's wrapped around.
Conceptual Metaphor
RESTRICTION IS CONSTRICTION (e.g., 'Fear constringed his options.').
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the best synonym for 'constringe' in a medical context?