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Detain vs Constrain - What's the difference?

detain | constrain |

In transitive terms the difference between detain and constrain

is that detain is to keep back or from; to withhold while constrain is to reduce a result in response to limited resources.

As verbs the difference between detain and constrain

is that detain is keep (someone) from proceeding by holding them back or making claims on their attention while constrain is to force physically, by strong persuasion or pressurizing; to compel; to oblige.

detain

English

Verb

(en verb)
  • Keep (someone) from proceeding by holding them back or making claims on their attention.
  • To put under custody.
  • To keep back or from; to withhold.
  • * Jeremy Taylor
  • Detain not the wages of the hireling.

    constrain

    English

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To force physically, by strong persuasion or pressurizing; to compel; to oblige.
  • To keep within close bounds; to confine.
  • To reduce a result in response to limited resources.
  • Derived terms

    * (l)