restrictive
gb/ɹistɹˈɪktɪv/ us/ɹistɹˈɪktɪv/
B2
Inglês
~ 6900
Aceções
0 aceções
adjective
B2
property
1
imposing strict limits or controls
Limiting what people can do or have, usually through rules or laws.
Padrão de uso:
[restrictive] [law/rule/policy/measure] on [something]
Erro comum:
Learners often confuse "restrictive" with "restricted." Use "restrictive" before a noun to describe a rule, law, or policy that limits something (a restrictive law), and "restricted" after a verb or before a noun to mean that access or amount is already limited (access is restricted, a restricted area).
Sinónimos
limiting (General and slightly softer; does not always suggest rules or authority.)
|
stringent (Stresses that rules or controls are very strict and often hard to meet.)
|
tight (Informal in this sense; often used for rules or controls that allow very little freedom.)
Antónimos
permissive (Suggests allowing many actions and few limits, especially by authorities or rules.)
|
liberal (Often used for laws or policies that allow more freedom and choice.)
|
lenient (Focuses on being not strict or punishing; the opposite of harshly restrictive rules.)
Colocações
restrictive laws
|restrictive policies
|restrictive measures
|restrictive regulations
|highly restrictive
|overly restrictive
Temas
law
|politics
|society
Exemplos
- 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.
Exemplos para aprendentes
- 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.
adjective
B2
property
2
limiting freedom, movement, or options
Not allowing someone enough freedom, space, or choices; making a person feel held back or controlled.
Padrão de uso:
[restrictive] [clothing/environment/contract/upbringing]
Erro comum:
Learners sometimes use only "strict" when they really mean "restrictive." "Strict" focuses on how carefully rules are enforced, while "restrictive" focuses on how much freedom or space is taken away. Also, avoid saying "I feel restrictive"; instead say "I feel restricted" or "The situation is restrictive."
Sinónimos
confining (Emphasizes feeling trapped or unable to move or act freely.)
|
oppressive (Stronger; suggests heavy, unfair control that causes distress.)
|
stifling (Focuses on preventing growth, creativity, or comfort, often in social or emotional contexts.)
Antónimos
liberating (Emphasizes giving a feeling of freedom and release from control.)
|
flexible (Highlights that rules or arrangements can change and allow many options.)
|
supportive (Contrasts with restrictive environments by focusing on helping people grow rather than holding them back.)
Colocações
restrictive clothing
|restrictive environment
|restrictive contract
|restrictive upbringing
|socially restrictive
|restrictive workplace
Temas
daily_life
|work
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Exemplos
- 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.
Exemplos para aprendentes
- 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.
adjective
technical
C1
property
3
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.
Padrão de uso:
[restrictive] [clause/relative clause/modifier/apposition]
Erro comum:
Learners often confuse restrictive and non-restrictive clauses, especially with comma use. A common mistake is to add commas around a restrictive clause (e.g., *"The people, who live here, are nice"*), which wrongly suggests that all people are being described. Remember: a restrictive clause is essential to the meaning and normally does NOT take commas in English.
Sinónimos
defining (In many grammar books, "defining" (as in "defining relative clause") is preferred in learner contexts and means the same thing.)
Antónimos
non-restrictive (Refers to a clause or phrase that adds extra, non-essential information and does not limit which person or thing is meant.)
Colocações
restrictive clause
|restrictive relative clause
|restrictive modifier
|restrictive appositive
|restrictive use of "which"
Temas
language
|education
|communication
Exemplos
- 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.
Exemplos para aprendentes
- 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.
adjective
technical
C1
property
4
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.
Padrão de uso:
[restrictive] [diet/lung disease/bariatric surgery]
Erro comum:
Learners may understand only the everyday meaning of "restrictive" and not realize it is also a common technical word in medicine and nutrition. In these fields, it often has a neutral, descriptive meaning, not necessarily a negative judgment. Context (diet, lung, surgery) usually makes the technical use clear.
Sinónimos
severely limiting (Plain-language paraphrase that stresses how strong the limit is, often used instead of technical terms when speaking to patients.)
Antónimos
non-restrictive (In medical or dietary contexts, describes approaches or conditions that do not strongly limit intake or function.)
Colocações
restrictive diet
|calorie-restrictive diet
|carbohydrate-restrictive diet
|restrictive lung disease
|restrictive bariatric surgery
Temas
medicine
|health
|science
Exemplos
- 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.
Exemplos para aprendentes
- 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.
Gramática
Forma de dicionário
restrictive
IPA
GB/ɹistɹˈɪktɪv/
US/ɹistɹˈɪktɪv/
Sílabas e acento
re - strict - ive (3 sílabas)
Stress on 2nd syllable (strict)
Formas da palavra
Adjective
- Base: restrictive
Família de palavras
Core family
restrict
verb B1
restriction
noun B1
Related words
restrictively
adverb
restricted
adjective
Negative and opposite forms
unrestricted
adjective
unrestrictive
adjective
Advanced or less common
restrictiveness
noun
Expressões
overly restrictive
1/ˈoʊvɚli ɹistɹˈɪktɪv/
fixed phrase
too limiting or strict
More limiting or strict than is good or needed.
Exemplos
- 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
1/ɹistɹˈɪktɪv klˈɔz/
fixed phrase
technical
grammar: 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.
Exemplos
- 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
1/ɹistɹˈɪktɪv dˈaɪət/
fixed phrase
strict eating plan with many limits
A way of eating that does not allow many foods, or allows only small amounts of food.
Exemplos
- She is following a restrictive diet after her surgery.
- Restrictive diets can be hard to maintain over a long period of time.
restrictive laws
1/ɹistɹˈɪktɪv lˈɔz/
fixed phrase
laws that greatly limit activities
Laws that make it hard or impossible for people to do certain things.
Exemplos
- Activists are protesting against restrictive laws on freedom of speech.
- Several states passed highly restrictive laws on voting procedures.
restrictive measures
1/ɹistɹˈɪktɪv mˈɛʒɚz/
fixed phrase
formal
strict limiting actions by authorities
Serious actions or rules from a government or organization that limit what people or companies can do.
Exemplos
- 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
1/ɹistɹˈɪktɪv pɹˈæktɪsɪz/
fixed phrase
formal
business actions that limit competition
Ways that companies act to stop fair competition or to limit what customers can choose.
Exemplos
- 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
1/ɹistɹˈɪktɪv ɹˈɛlɪtɪv klˈɔz/
fixed phrase
technical
relative clause that limits reference
A type of relative clause that gives important information to show exactly which person or thing you are talking about.
Exemplos
- "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
1/ɹistɹˈɪktɪv kˈʌvənənt/
fixed phrase
technical
legal clause limiting use of property
A rule in a contract that says someone cannot do certain things with land, a house, or a business.
Exemplos
- 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.