Synonyms and antonyms of To limit someone's freedom to act in British Thesaurus

limit (verb)

to reduce or control someone’s freedom to do what they want or someone’s ability to be effective

tie down ()

to stop someone from being free to do what they want

control (verb)

to make people behave in the way that you want them to behave

hamper (verb)

to limit someone’s freedom to move

fence in ()

to limit someone’s freedom

constrain (verb)

formal to limit someone’s freedom to do what they want

pen in ()

to make someone feel that they cannot escape from a situation

bind (verb)

to limit what someone is allowed to do by making them obey a rule or agreement

infringe (verb)

to limit or reduce someone’s legal rights or freedom

fetter (verb)

literary to limit someone’s freedom to do what they want

box in ()

to limit someone’s freedom to choose what to do

clip someone’s wings ()

to make someone have less freedom or power than before

cramp someone’s style ()

to make someone feel that they cannot behave in the way they want

disempower (verb)

to reduce the amount of control that someone has over a situation or over their life

enslave (verb)

if a feeling or idea enslaves someone, it influences everything that they do or think

ensnare (verb)

formal if a bad situation ensnares someone, they are unable to escape from it

get your hooks into someone ()

to get someone and keep them in a situation that is bad for them

have someone by the balls (impolite)

impolite to have complete control over someone, so that they have to do what you want

have someone on a string ()

to be able to control someone

hedge in ()

to limit someone’s freedom or ability to do something

hold down ()

to stop someone from having their freedom or rights

keep back ()

to prevent someone from making progress

keep down ()

to control people in such a strict or cruel way that they have very little freedom or very few rights

leave someone (with) no choice ()

to make someone feel that they must do something

lock into ()

to involve someone or something in a system, plan etc in such a way that they cannot easily escape from it

purge (verb)

to remove people suddenly or violently from an organization, group etc

put down ()

to use force to stop a protest or an attempt by people to take power away from a government or leader

quash (verb)

formal to use force or violence to stop the political action taken by a group of people

repress (verb)

to use force or violence to control people

suffocate (verb)

to feel that you are not free to enjoy your life or to do what you want, or to make someone feel this way