restrictive
imposing strict limits or controls
Limiting what people can do or have, usually through rules or laws.
[restrictive] [law/rule/policy/measure] on [something]
- The new immigration law is one of the most restrictive pieces of legislation in decades.
- Many scientists argue that overly restrictive regulations are slowing down medical research.
- The company introduced restrictive policies on remote work after the data breach.
- Some parents worry that restrictive screen-time rules will be hard to enforce.
- Environmental groups criticized the proposal as not nearly restrictive enough to cut emissions.
- The new rules at school are very restrictive.
- Some people think the internet law is too restrictive.
- Restrictive policies can limit small business growth.
- The government passed a restrictive ban on smoking in public places.
- These restrictive rules make it hard to start a new company.
limiting freedom, movement, or options
Not allowing someone enough freedom, space, or choices; making a person feel held back or controlled.
[restrictive] [clothing/environment/contract/upbringing]
- She left the job because she found the company culture too restrictive and controlling.
- The dress code is so restrictive that employees feel unable to express their personalities.
- Many young adults consider their parents’ rules overly restrictive and outdated.
- The contract was highly restrictive, preventing him from working for any competitor for two years.
- Some children grow up in restrictive environments where they are not allowed to explore or take small risks.
- This shirt is very restrictive, and I cannot move my arms well.
- He does not like the restrictive rules in his house.
- The school is less restrictive than my old school.
- She wants to leave her restrictive job and find a new one.
- The contract is restrictive, so she cannot work for another company.
grammar: essential limiting modifier
(Grammar) Describes a group of words that gives important information to show which person or thing you mean, so you cannot remove it without changing the meaning.
[restrictive] [clause/relative clause/modifier/apposition]
- In the sentence "Students who arrive late must wait outside," the phrase "who arrive late" is a restrictive relative clause.
- A restrictive clause is not set off by commas because it is necessary to identify the noun it modifies.
- The teacher asked the class to underline all the restrictive modifiers in the paragraph.
- In "The people living next door are very quiet," "living next door" functions as a restrictive modifier.
- Writers often confuse restrictive and non-restrictive clauses when deciding whether to use commas.
- In this sentence, "who live here" is a restrictive clause.
- A restrictive clause gives information that we need to know which person or thing we are talking about.
- Do not use commas around a restrictive relative clause in English.
- The teacher showed us how a restrictive clause changes the meaning of the sentence.
- We learned the difference between restrictive and non-restrictive clauses in class.
medical/diet: strongly limiting something
Used in medical or health language to talk about a plan or illness that strongly limits something, such as how much you can eat or how well you can breathe.
[restrictive] [diet/lung disease/bariatric surgery]
- Her doctor recommended a highly restrictive diet to manage her kidney disease.
- Restrictive lung disease makes it hard for the lungs to expand fully when you breathe in.
- Some types of bariatric surgery are classified as primarily restrictive because they reduce the size of the stomach.
- Patients often find long-term restrictive diets difficult to follow.
- The treatment plan is fairly restrictive in terms of what activities he is allowed to do.
- He is on a very restrictive diet after his surgery.
- Restrictive lung disease makes it hard for her to breathe deeply.
- The doctor said this is a restrictive form of surgery.
- Some people do not like restrictive diets because they cannot eat many foods.
- The new plan is restrictive, but it can help improve his health.
- Base: restrictive
overly restrictive
1too limiting or strict
More limiting or strict than is good or needed.
- Critics argue that the proposal is overly restrictive and will hurt innovation.
- The dress code was seen as overly restrictive by many employees.
restrictive clause
1grammar: essential identifying clause
A group of words in a sentence that gives necessary information to show which person or thing you mean, so you cannot remove it.
- In the sentence "Students who fail the test must retake it," the part "who fail the test" is a restrictive clause.
- Writers should not use commas around a restrictive clause in English.
restrictive diet
1strict eating plan with many limits
A way of eating that does not allow many foods, or allows only small amounts of food.
- She is following a restrictive diet after her surgery.
- Restrictive diets can be hard to maintain over a long period of time.
restrictive laws
1laws that greatly limit activities
Laws that make it hard or impossible for people to do certain things.
- Activists are protesting against restrictive laws on freedom of speech.
- Several states passed highly restrictive laws on voting procedures.
restrictive measures
1strict limiting actions by authorities
Serious actions or rules from a government or organization that limit what people or companies can do.
- The government announced new restrictive measures to slow the spread of the virus.
- Many small businesses struggled to survive under the restrictive measures imposed during the crisis.
restrictive practices
1business actions that limit competition
Ways that companies act to stop fair competition or to limit what customers can choose.
- The competition authority is investigating several companies for restrictive practices.
- New rules were introduced to prevent restrictive practices in the energy market.
restrictive relative clause
1relative clause that limits reference
A type of relative clause that gives important information to show exactly which person or thing you are talking about.
- "The book that you lent me was excellent" contains a restrictive relative clause: "that you lent me."
- Teachers often contrast restrictive relative clauses with non-restrictive ones when explaining comma use.
restrictive covenant
1legal clause limiting use of property
A rule in a contract that says someone cannot do certain things with land, a house, or a business.
- There is a restrictive covenant on the property that forbids building above two stories.
- The sale contract included a restrictive covenant that banned any industrial development on the land.
- The buyer discovered a restrictive covenant that prevents them from opening a restaurant on the site.
- Because of a restrictive covenant, the owners cannot open a restaurant on the ground floor.
- Lawyers are checking whether the old restrictive covenant is still enforceable.