1
as in limit
a real or imaginary point beyond which a person or thing cannot go the bridge has a weight limitation that bars heavy trucks from crossing it

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in restriction
something that limits one's freedom of action or choice the state has some fairly strict limitations on the sale and use of alcoholic beverages

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

3
as in constraint
the act or practice of keeping something (as an activity) within certain boundaries the limitation on the number of vehicles allowed on the island does not sit well with year-round residents

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

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 limitation Probably [in the] next year, people start to understand how to run the risk limitation, and then later on people start to be more familiar and more willing to work on protection and prevention. Megan Poinski, Forbes, 23 Jan. 2025 Before 2018, there were no price limitations in state law for homes that hadn’t been on the rental market prior to a natural disaster. Liam Dillon, Los Angeles Times, 23 Jan. 2025 The physical limitations of modern spacecraft pose significant challenges for reaching interstellar space in a human lifetime, especially with limited room onboard for carrying propellant or batteries. Victoria Corless, Space.com, 22 Jan. 2025 But undocumented immigrants make up a critical portion of the agricultural workforce, so mass deportations could lead to serious shortages of farm labor — especially given the limitations of the H-2A visa program and the challenges in attracting American workers to agricultural jobs. Willy C. Shih veronica Chua, Harvard Business Review, 22 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for limitation 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for limitation
Noun
  • In Iowa, for example, the nation’s top egg- and pork-producing state, agricultural operations are exempt from county zoning ordinances, and there are no limits on how many animals can be crammed inside a factory farm.
    Kenny Torrella, Vox, 23 Jan. 2025
  • That said, makeup is meant to sit on top of your skin, so there can be a limit on the efficacy.
    Ariana Yaptangco, Glamour, 23 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • States that have successfully addressed housing shortages — such as Texas, where cities like Austin have seen a 12.6% decline in rental prices — have prioritized loosening restrictions, streamlining permitting processes and promoting new construction to meet demand.
    David Byrd, Baltimore Sun, 20 Jan. 2025
  • His plans also include ICE raids in major metropolitan areas and placing additional restrictions on who is eligible to enter the US. 3.
    Alexandra Banner, CNN, 20 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Keep in mind: The possibility of budget constraints has been on the administration’s radar.
    Catherine E. Shoichet, CNN, 25 Jan. 2025
  • But the magic of Presence is its feeling of constraint.
    David Sims, The Atlantic, 25 Jan. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near limitation

Cite this Entry

“Limitation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/limitation. Accessed 3 Feb. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on limitation

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!