CIRCUMSCRIPTION Synonyms: 26 Similar and Opposite Words

circumscription

noun

ˌsər-kəm-ˈskrip-shən

Definition of circumscription

as in restriction

something that limits one's freedom of action or choice such circumscriptions on the freedom of speech are antithetical to a free and open society

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in limitation

the act or practice of keeping something (as an activity) within certain boundaries electronic monitoring bracelets are sometimes used to impose a circumscription of movement on people awaiting trial

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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 circumscription Thanks to its constitutional provenance, presidential pardon power faces little legal circumscription and minimal disclosure requirements for clemency advocacy efforts. — Willem Marx, Vanity Fair, 18 Feb. 2026 Their circumscription, however, does not make Assad’s current priorities less dangerous. — Lina Khatib, Foreign Affairs, 17 Jan. 2020 Longtime readers of the site, though, have noted that the site no longer functions this way, in part because the Internet isn’t currently a space conducive to blinders and circumscription. — Ross Scarano, Billboard, 6 May 2019

Recent Examples of Synonyms for circumscription

Noun

New York City just instituted a sweeping ban on schools using AI in the classroom through the start of high school, along with other restrictions on the technology.

— Frank Landymore, Futurism, 3 Sep. 2026
Rosaviatsiya -- announced temporary flight restrictions at airports in Sochi, Gelendzhik, Penza, Saratov, Yaroslavl and Nizhny Novgorod.

— David Brennan, ABC News, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of restriction

Noun

The approach is designed around the limitations of small aerial vehicles, where additional weight and continuous motor operation can quickly drain a battery.

— Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 1 Sep. 2026
Financial constraints might have prevented Jarmond from firing Kelly sooner, but those limitations didn’t prevent him from extending Kelly’s contract in 2023.

— Mirjam Swanson, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of limitation

Noun

Importantly, this outlook not only incorporates the chip supply Broadcom expects to receive, but also physical infrastructure constraints such as land, power, and data center shells.

— Jeff Marks, CNBC, 2 Sep. 2026
The product should solve a constraint that customers can quantify.

— John Gabriel, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of constraint

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circumscribing

circumscription

circumscriptions

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Style

“Circumscription.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/circumscription. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of circumscription

noun

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