What does constipating mean?
Constipating describes something that causes constipation — a condition in which bowel movements become infrequent or difficult. The word most commonly appears in medical and dietary contexts: opioid painkillers, iron supplements, and low-fibre diets are all frequently described as constipating, since they slow the movement of material through the intestines. It functions as the adjective form of the verb "to constipate," which derives from the Latin constipare, "to press or crowd together," from stipare, "to pack tight." Beyond medicine, constipating can be used figuratively and often humorously to characterise anything that causes stagnation or obstructs progress, such as excessive regulation or bureaucratic process. In such uses it carries a mildly comic connotation. The word is standard in both British and American English, though it remains far less common than its noun counterpart "constipation." Its negative associations make it useful for vividly conveying a sense of blockage, whether physical or metaphorical.
Causing constipation; tending to impede bowel movement, or figuratively, causing stagnation or obstruction.
"A sedentary lifestyle and a fibre-poor diet are both highly constipating."
Also functions as the present participle of the verb "constipate."
Present participle of "constipate": to cause someone to become constipated.
"The morphine was constipating her badly, so the nurse adjusted the dosage."
The word traces back to the Latin stipare, meaning "to cram or pack tight" — so a constipating drug literally packs you up.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of constipating
Constipating comes from the verb "constipate," borrowed into English from the Latin constipare, formed from com- ("together") and stipare ("to pack, cram, or press tight"). The original Latin sense of crowding or compressing was extended in Late Latin to mean blocking or obstructing, which underlies the modern medical meaning. The adjective form developed alongside the verb, with "constipation" established in English by around the early 15th century in its literal bodily sense.
Related word forms
How constipating is actually used
Primarily medical or clinical in register when used literally; the figurative sense is informal and relatively rare. Most often appears attributively before a noun ("a constipating diet") or predicatively ("these tablets are constipating").
Easily confused with constipating
"Consternating" means causing alarm or dismay, while "constipating" means causing constipation or blockage.