constipate

verb
con·​sti·​pate | \ ˈkän(t)-stə-ˌpāt How to pronounce constipate (audio) \
constipated; constipating

Definition of constipate

transitive verb

1 : to cause constipation in
2 : to make immobile, inactive, or dull : stultify so much clutter … will tend to constipate the novel's working orderThe Times Literary Supplement (London)

Examples of constipate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Having been intermittently constipated for most of my life, even that seemed ambitious. Julie Schott, The Cut, "If You Want Clear Skin, Look at Your Poop," 19 Mar. 2018 Obviously men can be constipated too, but women are much more likely to be constipated than men. Mary Allen, Allure, "8 Things to Know About Your Poop," 6 Sep. 2017

First Known Use of constipate

1533, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for constipate

Medieval Latin constipatus, past participle of constipare, from Latin, to crowd together, from com- + stipare to pack tight — more at stiff

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More Definitions for constipate

constipate

transitive verb
con·​sti·​pate | \ ˈkän(t)-stə-ˌpāt How to pronounce constipate (audio) \
constipated; constipating

Medical Definition of constipate

: to make costive : cause constipation in