straitens
Puts in difficulty
Straitens is the third-person singular of straiten, meaning to make narrow, tight, or restricted.
The word appears most often in the phrase straitened circumstances, describing financial hardship or reduced means.
Someone in straitened circumstances has less money than they once did or need.
The word shares its root with strait, suggesting constriction or difficulty.
Applies compressing force
- compressesSqueezes into less space
- tightensMakes less loose
- narrowsConstricted water passage
- pinchesTiny measured quantities
cinches · clamps · contracts · shrinks · chokes · restricts · confines · binds
Limits or confines
- curtailsReduces or limits
- reducesMakes less in quantity
- diminishesBecomes smaller or weaker
- restrictsPlaces limits upon
confines · bounds · hampers · impedes · inhibits · checks · curbs · bridles
squeezes
Applies compressing force
- compressesSqueezes into less space
- tightensMakes less loose
- narrowsConstricted water passage
pinches · cinches · clamps · contracts · shrinks · chokes · restricts · confines · binds · girdles
constrains
Limits or confines
- curtailsReduces or limits
- reducesMakes less in quantity
- diminishesBecomes smaller or weaker
restricts · confines · bounds · hampers · impedes · inhibits · checks · curbs · bridles · reins
depletes
Uses until gone
beggars · ruins · cripples · weakens · diminishes · reduces · pinches · squeezes · tightens · shortens
pressures
Forces urging action
- burdensWeighty obligations borne
- strainsVarieties, injuries, or sifts
- troublesDistressing difficulties
worries · stresses · afflicts · oppresses · overwhelms · taxes · tries · hardships · difficulties · adversity
straitensliberates
Sets free from captivity
frees · releases · loosens · emancipates · unshackles
- straitened circumstancesState of financial difficulty