restraint
noun
re·straint
ri-ˈstrānt 
1
a
: an act of restraining : the state of being restrained
b(1)
: a means of restraining : a restraining force or influence
(2)
: a device that restricts movement
a restraint for children riding in cars
2
: a control over the expression of one's emotions or thoughts
Examples of restraint in a Sentence
Make sure the child safety restraint is in place.
The prisoner was placed in restraints.
His angry response showed a lack of restraint.
The government has acted with restraint in dealing with this crisis.
Recent Examples on the Web
Another cut vegetables without a hair restraint.
—
David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 3 Nov. 2025
As demonstrations outside an immigration enforcement facility near Chicago have ramped up over the past couple of months, so has the number of protesters being led away in restraints and facing a court date.
—Nicquel Terry Ellis, CNN Money, 2 Nov. 2025
Lap bars, which are the primary restraint system, were found to be fully functional in multiple inspections, Gorgon said.
—Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 31 Oct. 2025
High chairs like these are expected to have an attached restraint system for children, and this particular chair was sold without one.
—Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for restraint
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 3 Nov. 2025
As demonstrations outside an immigration enforcement facility near Chicago have ramped up over the past couple of months, so has the number of protesters being led away in restraints and facing a court date.
—Nicquel Terry Ellis, CNN Money, 2 Nov. 2025
Lap bars, which are the primary restraint system, were found to be fully functional in multiple inspections, Gorgon said.
—Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 31 Oct. 2025
High chairs like these are expected to have an attached restraint system for children, and this particular chair was sold without one.
—Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for restraint
Cite this Entry
“Restraint.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/restraint. Accessed 9 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
restraint
noun
re·straint
ri-ˈstrānt
1
: the act of restraining : the state of being restrained
held in restraint
2
: a restraining force or influence
3
: control over one's behavior
act with restraint
Medical Definition
restraint
noun
re·straint
ri-ˈstrānt
: a device that restricts movement
restraints such as straitjackets for violent patients
Legal Definition
restraint
noun
re·straint
ri-ˈstrānt
1
a
: an act or fact of restraining see also prior restraint
b
: the state of being restrained
2
a
: a means of restraining
b
: a device that restricts movement (as of prisoners or violent psychiatric patients)
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