# constricted

/kənˈstɹɪktəd/ (US) · /kənstɹˈɪktɪd/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/constricted
Updated: 2026-10-16

## Definition

made narrower or tighter, so little can pass through. You use it for body parts, clothes, or spaces that feel too tight.

For teachers: narrowed or tightly compressed so that flow, movement, or expansion is limited. Typically referring to blood vessels, airways, pupils, or enclosed spaces.

## Examples

- His chest feels tight and constricted today.
- After running in cold air, her throat felt constricted and she stopped to catch her breath.
- The river, constricted by steep canyon walls, quickened into rapids that made navigation dangerous even for experienced kayakers.

## Synonyms

tight, narrow, cramped, restricted

## Antonyms

loose, wide

## Usage notes

- Often follows linking verbs such as feel, seem, or become, or appears before nouns for body parts and passages.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.