constrict
/kənˈstɹɪkt/verb
To make something narrower or tighter, especially by squeezing.
Example sentences
- “Cold weather can constrict the blood vessels in your hands.”
- “The snake constricts its prey until it stops breathing.”
Mostly physical or medical: pupils, blood vessels, and airways constrict. For rules that limit freedom, 'restrict' is the usual verb.