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circumscribed

ADJECTIVE
bounded
Synonyms
STRONGEST
belted bordered surrounded
STRONG
compassed defined delimited edged encircled enclosed encompassed enveloped fenced flanked fringed girdled hedged hog-tied restricted rimmed ringed walled
WEAK
boundaried contiguous definite determinate finite limitary
Antonyms
WEAK
free loose unbounded unconfined unlimited
ADJECTIVE
close
Synonyms
STRONGEST
solid tight
STRONG
compact confined confining congested consolidated cropped crowded firm narrow packed restricted short thick
WEAK
close-grained impenetrable impermeable jam-packed substantial
Antonyms
STRONG
clear empty loose uncongested uncrowded
WEAK
open uncramped
ADJECTIVE
confined
Synonyms
STRONGEST
cramped imprisoned restrained restricted
STRONG
bound chilled compassed cramp detained grounded hampered held hog-tied iced immured incarcerated indisposed invalided jailed pent sick
WEAK
bedfast bedridden bottled-up cooped up flattened out in chains in jail incommodious laid up locked up on ice sealed up shut-in
Antonyms
STRONG
healthy well
WEAK
free liberated unlimited
ADJECTIVE
cramped
Synonyms
STRONGEST
crowded narrow packed small tiny
STRONG
close confined crabbed pent restricted squeezed
WEAK
awkward closed in hemmed in illegible incommodious indecipherable irregular jammed in little minute tight tucked up two-by-four uncomfortable
Antonyms
STRONGEST
big broad-minded empty enormous generous huge large
WEAK
free open uncongested uncramped uncrowded uninhibited unobstructed
ADJECTIVE
definite
Synonyms
STRONGEST
defined precise
WEAK
assigned assured beyond doubt convinced decided determinate determined established guaranteed limited narrow prescribed restricted set settled sure
Antonyms
WEAK
imprecise indefinite indeterminate indistinct inexact not clear obscure uncertain unclear undefined unfixed unlimited vague
ADJECTIVE
exclusive
Synonyms
STRONGEST
absolute chic exclusionary fashionable licensed limited posh private privileged restrictive ritzy segregated sole swank unique
STRONG
choice chosen entire full independent narrow particular single total whole
WEAK
aloof aristocratic clannish classy cliquish closed complete confined country club discriminative elegant exclusory only peculiar preferential prohibitive select selfish snobbish socially correct undivided upper crust
Antonyms
STRONGEST
old-fashioned open poor public unfashionable
STRONG
incomplete inferior part partial
WEAK
divided shared unlimited unrestricted
ADJECTIVE
finite
Synonyms
STRONGEST
definite fixed limited restricted
WEAK
bound bounded conditioned confined definable delimited demarcated determinate exact precise specific terminable
Antonyms
STRONGEST
indefinite unfixed unlimited
WEAK
endless infinite interminable unrestricted
ADJECTIVE
fixed
Synonyms
STRONGEST
agreed certain defined definite definitive inflexible limited planned precise resolved restricted settled stated
STRONG
abiding arranged confirmed decided enduring firm level narrow prearranged rigged rooted set steady still stipulated unbending
WEAK
changeless determinate in the bag inalterable inveterate never-failing set-up steadfast sure unblinking unchangeable undeviating unfaltering unflinching unmodifiable unmovable unqualified unwavering
Antonyms
STRONGEST
imprecise indefinite questionable uncertain unlimited unreliable
STRONG
flexible soft undecided unstable weak
WEAK
changeable irresolute unestablished unsteady variable
ADJECTIVE
insular
Synonyms
STRONGEST
isolated parochial petty
WEAK
bigoted closed confined contracted cut off detached illiberal inward-looking limited narrow prejudiced provincial restricted secluded separate separated sequestered
Antonyms
WEAK
broad-minded unbiased unprejudiced
ADJECTIVE
internal
Synonyms
STRONGEST
constitutional domestic in-house intramural national private subjective
WEAK
centralized civic enclosed gut home indigenous inherent innate inner innermore inside interior intestine intimate intrinsic inward municipal native visceral viscerous
Antonyms
WEAK
external outer
ADJECTIVE
limited
Synonyms
STRONGEST
defined finite narrow
STRONG
bound bounded checked confined constrained controlled curbed delimited fixed hampered local modified particular qualified reserved restrained sectional
WEAK
determinate hemmed in precise topical
Antonyms
STRONGEST
unrestricted
STRONG
extroverted free general indefinite outgoing unbounded unlimited
WEAK
OK adequate limitless satisfactory sufficient
ADJECTIVE
narrow
Synonyms
STRONGEST
cramped definite limited precarious precise slender slim small thin tight
STRONG
attenuated close compressed confining constricted contracted exclusive fine fixed near pent pinched scant scanty select set shrunken spare strait taper tapered tapering
WEAK
determinate exiguous incapacious linear meager paltry threadlike
Antonyms
STRONGEST
fat free giving imprecise indefinite inexact loose open strong unlimited
STRONG
away far poor thick unfixed
WEAK
accepting broad broad-minded generous liberal spendthrift tolerant unconfined unrestricted wasting wide
ADJECTIVE
neck and neck
Synonyms
WEAK
close-grained compact confined confining congested consolidated cropped crowded firm impenetrable impermeable jam-packed narrow nip and tuck packed restricted short solid substantial thick tight
ADJECTIVE
outlined
Synonyms
STRONGEST
defined
STRONG
banded bordered bounded delimited delineated edged girdled marked zoned
WEAK
configurated
ADJECTIVE
precise
Synonyms
STRONGEST
accurate actual clear-cut correct decisive definite exact explicit literal narrow particular proper rigid rigorous specific strict
WEAK
absolute categorical determinate express fixed individual limited nice on the button on the money on the nose on-target restricted right stringent unequivocal very well-defined
Antonyms
STRONGEST
ambiguous flexible general imprecise improper inaccurate incorrect indefinite inexact lenient loose obscure tolerant uncertain unsuitable vague yielding
WEAK
careless false negligent questionable slipshod
ADJECTIVE
qualified
Synonyms
STRONGEST
determined
STRONG
bounded confined fixed guarded modified reserved
WEAK
conditional contingent definite equivocal partial provisional
Antonyms
STRONG
free unlimited
WEAK
incapable open unable unproficient unqualified unrestricted unskilled untalented
ADJECTIVE
swank
Synonyms
STRONGEST
chic elegant fancy fashionable posh ritzy swanky
STRONG
absolute choice chosen closed complete confined entire full independent licensed limited narrow particular private privileged segregated select single sole total whole
WEAK
aloof aristocratic clannish classy cliquish country club discriminative exclusionary exclusory only peculiar preferential prohibitive restrictive selfish snobbish socially correct undivided unique upper crust
Antonyms
STRONGEST
old-fashioned poor unfashionable
STRONG
deficient dependent imperfect incomplete indefinite inferior needy open part partial public together unfinished unlimited unrestricted

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

In human terms, it is an emotional and costly undertaking, circumscribed by science, chance and luck.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 14, 2025

As per the country's own observations, the fund had limited ability to do something about the loan, and was "circumscribed by procedural and technical formalities".

From BBC • May 14, 2025

Coolidge had attracted attention with an earlier documentary about her family, but “Not a Pretty Picture” led a curiously circumscribed existence.

From New York Times • Feb. 1, 2024

The soundtrack’s low rumble swells into a roar, while a quick dusty glimpse of desert floor in glowing raw sienna slams the boundless sky into the circumscribed earth.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 20, 2023

Her Maryland was a small, circumscribed world of Curt’s American friends.

From "Americanah" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Vocabulary lists containing circumscribed

"The Tragedy of Hamlet," Vocabulary from Act 1

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