French word

contraignant

Pronunciation

IPA/kɔ̃tʁɛɲɑ̃/

Meaning

  • adjectiverestrictive

Example

Des horaires contraignants rendent la vie quotidienne difficile.

Restrictive schedules make daily life difficult.

Illustration for contraignant (restrictive)

More examples

Les règles contraignantes du logement limitent les visites.

The restrictive housing rules limit visits.

Core concept

A contract, schedule, or rule acting like a tight boundary around possible actions.

Common phrases

  • horaires contraignants

    restrictive work hours

  • règles contraignantes

    restrictive rules

  • mesures contraignantes

    binding measures

Similar words

obligatoire: Mandatory under an established rule or official instruction.
rigide: Not adaptable and allowing no changes or exceptions.
contraint: Done only because external forces leave no real alternative.

Definition in French

Qui impose des contraintes externes limitant la liberté d'action et rendant certains choix difficiles ou impossibles.

Word origin

The adjective contraignant developed from contraindre, whose history leads back to Latin constringere, expressing the idea of binding or holding tightly.

Usage tips

  • Contraignant usually suggests an external restriction, so pénible or embêtant is more accurate when something is merely difficult or annoying.

Other meanings

  • bindingadjective
  • coerciveadjective

Opposites

  • flexibleflexibleadjective
  • facultatifoptionaladjective

Related words

Word lists with this word