Costretto

Costretto is an Italian adjective formed as the past participle of the verb costringere, meaning to force or compel. It is used to indicate that someone has been compelled to do something, or that a situation has imposed a constraint on a person or action.

In usage, costretto agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies. The forms are costretto (masculine singular), costretta (feminine singular), costretti (masculine plural), and costrette (feminine plural). It can function as a predicate adjective with essere, or appear in phrases with the infinitive to express obligation or compulsion. Common constructions include costretto a + [infinitive], indicating that someone is obliged to perform an action, and costretto da / dalle circostanze, meaning forced by circumstances.

Examples:

- È costretto a partire. (He is forced to leave.)

- Era costretto dalle circostanze a confessare. (He was forced by circumstances to confess.)

- I dipendenti erano costretti a rimanere. (The employees were forced to stay.)

In broader use, costretto closely mirrors English “forced” or “compelled.” It may appear in legal, social, and literary contexts to describe coercion, constraint, or lack of choice. Related Italian terms include costringere (to force), costrizione (coercion or constraint), and obbligare (to oblige). Though primarily an everyday rather than technical term, costretto can carry a strong emphasis on external pressure shaping behavior.