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

Synonyms

• constraint
• continence
• discipline
• discretion
• inhibition
• refrainment
• repression
• reserve
• self-command
• self-control
• self-restraint
• suppression

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

County patients wind up in mechanical restraints at high rates, partly because of their frustration at being locked in for months or years. —Alex Barnard, The Mercury News, 10 Apr. 2024

Compensating for Scott’s restraint is the camera, a wildly expressive agent that quickly establishes itself as the show’s biggest character (and only true artist). —Lili Loofbourow, Washington Post, 4 Apr. 2024

Then at the 20-minute mark, the band receded to a hush as Loueke struck the strings with soft, meticulous notes, accompanied by rhythmic clicking scatting, a moment of sheer exhilaration by restraint, as Blanchard, decked out in glittery sneakers, shuffling around in admiration. —Journal Sentinel, 3 Apr. 2024

Acknowledge your restraints and then plan around them. —Cheryl Robinson, Forbes, 30 Mar. 2024

His role required restraint, something that didn’t come easily for a go-to scorer. —Ben Bolch, Los Angeles Times, 28 Mar. 2024

Yet the Israeli government has continually defied U.S. demands to act with restraint, causing a humanitarian catastrophe that has already cost more than 30,000 Palestinian lives. —Joost Hiltermann, Foreign Affairs, 28 Mar. 2024

Meade was in restraints while being escorted out of the hospital, Tewalt said. —Dalia Faheid, CNN, 22 Mar. 2024

The new country was forced to pay what would be at least $21 billion in today’s dollars to avoid war and further economic restraint and to maintain its independence. —Char Adams, NBC News, 28 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French restreinte, from restreindre

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing restraint

• kept/placed under restraint
• head restraint
• passive restraint
• prior restraint
• self-restraint
• under restraint

Kids 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)