restrain

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb restrain contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of restrain are bridle, check, and curb. While all these words mean "to hold back from or control in doing something," restrain suggests holding back by force or persuasion from acting or from going to extremes.

restrained themselves from laughing

When could bridle be used to replace restrain?

The words bridle and restrain can be used in similar contexts, but bridle implies keeping under control by subduing or holding in.

bridle an impulse to throw the book down

When can check be used instead of restrain?

The words check and restrain are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, check implies restraining or impeding a progress, activity, or impetus.

trying to check government spending

Where would curb be a reasonable alternative to restrain?

Although the words curb and restrain have much in common, curb suggests an abrupt or drastic checking.

learn to curb your appetite

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of restrain Hietala is accused of restraining a woman in a hotel in Fairbanks in July 2018, prosecutors said. Sara Schilling, Sacbee.com, 20 May 2025 But on social media, Ms. Hudson has been less restrained. Katherine Rosman, New York Times, 20 May 2025 While Saudi Arabia is rolling out the red carpet for Nvidia’s latest-generation chips, China is seeing growing restrictions even on underpowered GPUs such as the H20, as the U.S. attempts to restrain the country’s domestic AI ambitions. Shannon Carroll, Quartz, 19 May 2025 All of the surviving victims were granted indefinite restraining orders at the sentencing hearing, authorities said. Nicole Acosta, People.com, 12 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for restrain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for restrain
Verb
  • That ruling was compromised somewhat by a later decision that allowed a farmer’s consumption of his own wheat to be regulated, and a lamentable 6-3 decision allowing federal regulation of marijuana possession.
    George Liebmann, Baltimore Sun, 1 June 2025
  • Despite the encroachment of people in their natural habitats, alligators remain an important predator regulating ecosystem populations in the nation’s wetlands.
    Noël Fletcher, Forbes.com, 1 June 2025
Verb
  • Officers went to the townhouse and arrested Woeltz, who is charged with assault, kidnapping, unlawful imprisonment and criminal possession of a gun.
    John Bacon, USA Today, 26 May 2025
  • On March 8, 1990, when Lyle was arrested in connection with their parents' murders, Erik was competing in a tennis tournament in Israel.
    Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 25 May 2025
Verb
  • Lau’s discipline is the physical extension of a whole philosophy of muscle development, harnessing of qi (energy) to help people know and control their body.
    Jia H. Jung, Mercury News, 4 June 2025
  • The missing money controlled by Velazquez was supposed to go toward undercover narcotics operations.
    Charles Rabin, Miami Herald, 4 June 2025
Verb
  • Morena overhauled the court system late last year, fueling protests and criticism that the reform is an attempt by those in power to seize on their political popularity to gain control of the branch of government, that was until now, out of their reach.
    MARÍA VERZA, Arkansas Online, 3 June 2025
  • Arrests made, guns seized after 5 musicians found dead near U.S. border Feds charge California man with threatening to kill Trump on Facebook Cold Case DNA Florida Emily Mae Czachor Emily Mae Czachor is a news editor at CBSNews.com.
    Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 3 June 2025
Verb
  • For example, foods containing the slow-release carbohydrate sweetener sucromalt help people with diabetes prevent blood sugar spikes, and hypoallergenic infant formula can be lifesaving for infants that cannot digest milk at a young age.
    Paul Dawson, The Conversation, 26 May 2025
  • This post contains spoilers for The Rehearsal Season 2 finale.
    Megan McCluskey, Time, 26 May 2025
Verb
  • In the morning, the restaurant doubles as a coffee shop where guests can grab drip coffee, fresh juices, and a small selection of hot and cold breakfast options, including the beloved Hawaiian classic, Loco Moco.
    Jalyn Robinson, Travel + Leisure, 25 May 2025
  • The colorful bar framed in bright neon lights is on the main concourse, so people walking by can grab a drink and head to the casino or other favorite activity, Allen said.
    Pamela McLoughlin, Hartford Courant, 24 May 2025
Verb
  • The plaintiffs contend that laws targeting political deepfakes, particularly those aimed at curbing election misinformation, risk silencing legitimate satire and expression.
    Anisha Sircar, Forbes.com, 30 May 2025
  • South Korea’s central bank on Thursday raised its policy rate to curb inflation, delivering six back-to-back rate hikes for the first time.
    Anniek Bao, CNBC, 29 May 2025
Verb
  • The Sun newspaper reports that, back in 2006, Pike – who starred as Amy Dunne in Gone Girl alongside Ben Affleck and also appeared in Bond film Die Another Day – was speaking to her mother on the phone when she was violently apprehended by a thief on a bicycle.
    Caroline Frost, Deadline, 25 May 2025
  • Like many of those apprehended this week, Fonseca Solorzano arrived in the United States from Honduras via CPB One, an application set up during the Biden administration that provided asylum seekers a way to enter the country legally after going through a background check.
    Melissa Gomez, Los Angeles Times, 24 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Restrain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/restrain. Accessed 7 Jun. 2025.

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