1
as in discipline
the checking of one's true feelings and impulses when dealing with others
it will take a great deal of restraint to keep from telling her how ugly that dress is
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in restriction
something that limits one's freedom of action or choice
civil libertarians contend that the new laws place too many restraints on our constitutionally guaranteed rights
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in temperance
the power to control one's actions, impulses, or emotions
he shows very little restraint or tact when expressing his opinions about others
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of restraint
Scent, too, is used with restraint.
—
Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2026
Airport slogs continue to put pressure on lawmakers and the White House, but a deal remains elusive as Senate Democrats hold out for restraints on immigration agents.
—Isaac Arnsdorf, Washington Post, 26 Mar. 2026
Part of Harison’s magnetism is his restraint.
—Gabrielle Nicole Pharms, Rolling Stone, 25 Mar. 2026
The SilverKris Lounge in Changi's Terminal 3 doesn’t make restraint of any kind easy.
—Arati Menon, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for restraint
Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2026
Airport slogs continue to put pressure on lawmakers and the White House, but a deal remains elusive as Senate Democrats hold out for restraints on immigration agents.
—Isaac Arnsdorf, Washington Post, 26 Mar. 2026
Part of Harison’s magnetism is his restraint.
—Gabrielle Nicole Pharms, Rolling Stone, 25 Mar. 2026
The SilverKris Lounge in Changi's Terminal 3 doesn’t make restraint of any kind easy.
—Arati Menon, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for restraint
Recent Examples of Synonyms for restraint
Noun
-
These early routines introduced him to the discipline and rhythms of business.—
Daniel Fusch,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Oftentimes, it is seen as some sort of precious art form, maybe something in the realm of ballet that requires real discipline.—
Emma Forgione,
Vulture,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Alarmed civic officials across the West have already begun ordering restrictions on watering lawns, cleaning cars and even whether restaurant patrons get served glasses of water.—
Nicole Fallert,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Regional restrictions may apply.—
Kilty Cleary,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
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In the case of Steve Jobs, his incredible strength in transcendence tips into excess because it is not supported by other dimensions of character, such as patience, calm, and self-regulation that come from temperance, and the humility and humanity to see other points of view.—
Mary Crossan,
Forbes.com,
28 Jan. 2026
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On a single day in 1900, a former schoolteacher destroyed three saloons using bricks, rocks, and a billiard ball—all to advance the cause of temperance.—
The Atlantic Science Desk,
The Atlantic,
27 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Haghighi has taken a stand against censorship and repression not only in his movies but also by personal example.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
27 Mar. 2026
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The breach comes not long after the Justice Department earlier this month seized four domains connected to the Handala group, as part of an ongoing effort to disrupt hacking and transnational repression schemes conducted by the Islamic Republic of Iran's Ministry of Intelligence and Security.—
Sarah N. Lynch,
CBS News,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Some of these clouds could be thick enough to trigger launch constraints.—
Brandi D. Addison,
USA Today,
1 Apr. 2026
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While efforts to curb reliance on virgin synthetics have largely centered on recycled polyester, that approach has faced cost, feedstock and scaling constraints.—
Alexandra Harrell,
Sourcing Journal,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
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In the fullness of time, Nancy had a Nest camera installed—one of those all-seeing eyes meant to guard the property and calm anxious nerves and provide real safety from intrusion.—
Vinson Cunningham,
New Yorker,
1 Apr. 2026
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If not treated early, the infection can progress to more serious symptoms, such as joint swelling and arthritis, nerve pain, tingling or numbness, facial muscle weakness, heart inflammation and difficulties with memory or concentration.—
Emily Bache,
The Conversation,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Each spring, otherwise reasonable home cooks lose all inhibitions at the first sight of ramps at the farmers market.—
Kelly Vaughan,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
23 Mar. 2026
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Metallica plays on the stereo while Garcia and Huerta operate like two rock stars with no inhibitions in the kitchen.—
Jenn Harris,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
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This is due to a limitation in the Pennsylvania Legislature that families and advocates are working to address.—
Alyssa Goldberg,
USA Today,
26 Mar. 2026
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The central bank originally imposed the limitations due to governance and control issues at Wells, including employees opening millions of unauthorized accounts to meet work-performance quotas.—
Liz Napolitano,
CNBC,
26 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Restraint.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/restraint. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
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