CIRCUMSCRIBING Synonyms: 42 Similar and Opposite Words

circumscribing

verb

present participle of circumscribe

as in limiting

to set bounds or an upper limit for circumscribed his enthusiasm so as not to make the losing side feel worse

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as in defining

to mark the limits of Lake Michigan circumscribes the city of Chicago on the east

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of circumscribing In quick succession, the Court began circumscribing Congress’s ability to define rights and act on its constitutional imagination. — Duncan Hosie, The Atlantic, 13 Jan. 2026 This wouldn’t be the first time the Court has avoided a head-on fight with the other branches, especially after Congress makes noise about circumscribing its authority. — Time, 14 Nov. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for circumscribing

Verb

The plight of the Palestinians continues to resonate with foreign publics, limiting how far pivotal countries such as Saudi Arabia will go in normalizing relations with Israel.

— Dalia Dassa Kaye, Foreign Affairs, 27 Oct. 2026
The legislation includes measures aimed at encouraging housing construction, reducing regulatory barriers, expanding financing options and limiting purchases of single-family homes by large institutional investors.

— Kate Dore, CFP®, EA,Jessica Dickler,Sarah Agostino,Greg Iacurci,Lorie Konish,Annie Nova,Sharon Epperson,Stephanie Dhue, CNBC, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of limiting

Verb

Yet as black became a defining color of modern fashion, most famously through Gabrielle Chanel’s little black dress of 1926, its association with mourning gradually loosened.

— Livia Caligor, Vogue, 21 Oct. 2026
In From Day One As countries build generation-defining infrastructure—road and rail tunnels, smart stadiums and hospital precincts—connectivity is too often bolted on late in construction.

— Stephen Farrugia, Forbes.com, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of defining

Verb

The league issued memos to its sportsbooks partners and all 30 teams restricting bets that are easy for an individual player to manipulate.

— Josh Appel, Washington Post, 26 Oct. 2026
Social media was reckoned Lula’s Achilles’ Heel, with his own Workers’ Party accusing Meta’s platform Instagram of restricting the reach and sound of its posts, as well as Lula’s profile and visibility on search engines.

— Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of restricting

Browse Nearby Words

circumscribes

circumscribing

circumscription

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Style

“Circumscribing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/circumscribing. Accessed 29 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of circumscribing

verb

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