curb 1 of 2

curb

2 of 2

noun

as in restriction
something that limits one's freedom of action or choice these international regulations act as a curb on the plundering of a nation's archaeological treasures

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb curb contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of curb are bridle, check, and restrain. While all these words mean "to hold back from or control in doing something," curb suggests an abrupt or drastic checking.

learn to curb your appetite

When is it sensible to use bridle instead of curb?

While in some cases nearly identical to curb, bridle implies keeping under control by subduing or holding in.

bridle an impulse to throw the book down

Where would check be a reasonable alternative to curb?

Although the words check and curb have much in common, check implies restraining or impeding a progress, activity, or impetus.

trying to check government spending

In what contexts can restrain take the place of curb?

The synonyms restrain and curb are sometimes interchangeable, but restrain suggests holding back by force or persuasion from acting or from going to extremes.

restrained themselves from laughing

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 curb
Verb
The Limits Of Individual Action Large-scale action across borders is the only way to curb the rise in online romance fraud. Christine Ro, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025 Marquette University launched a new police unit focused on curbing reckless driving around campus just a few months before two student-athletes died in a crash about a mile from campus. Kelly Meyerhofer, jsonline.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Noun
Parcels on the block had been subdivided, depressions in the curb laid for future driveways. Maureen Lee Lenker, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Sep. 2025 Multi-touchpoint facial recognition, deployed from self-bag drop to boarding gates, enables curb-to-gate travel in just 12 minutes. Ritu Upadhyay, Footwear News, 8 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for curb
Recent Examples of Synonyms for curb
Verb
  • Your liver also plays the very sweet role of regulating your blood sugar levels by releasing glucose and storing glycogen when appropriate.
    Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
  • Among its 14 plant oils are argan kernel and rice bran, which regulate sebum production and loosen dead skin cells, respectively—and, together, leave your pores looking significantly smaller and your skin significantly smoother.
    Sophia Panych, Allure, 16 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Both Poland and Latvia announced new restrictions on Thursday.
    David Brennan, ABC News, 11 Sep. 2025
  • Once magnets for buyers seeking sunshine – and often looser Covid restrictions – demand has started to cool off in these states.
    CNN.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 10 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Democrats are doing fairly well in the generic congressional ballot, which tests which party voters prefer to control Congress.
    W. James Antle III, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025
  • The team has now built the first transistor-like switch that controls exciton flow.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 11 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The network denied the claims but admitted it was edited due to time constraints.
    Washington Examiner Staff, The Washington Examiner, 16 Sep. 2025
  • The credit rating agency put the rise down to policy weaknesses, market constraints, and inflation, Reuters noted.
    Preeti Jha, semafor.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The woman and the infant, who wasn’t restrained, were thrown from the vehicle.
    Judith Kohler, Denver Post, 12 Sep. 2025
  • The malnourished woman ran to a neighbor’s house and said she had been restrained in the man’s basement.
    Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 12 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • That limitation has capped how much carbon plants can lock away.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 13 Sep. 2025
  • Gulf states like Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and the UAE could utilize their vast sovereign wealth funds to impose trade limitations on Israel.
    Mostafa Salem, CNN Money, 13 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • This report contains results from surveys and population estimation methods conducted by Fish and Wildlife, Canadian Wildlife Service and numerous state and provincial partners.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 16 Sep. 2025
  • And while hair perfumes are typically less concentrated and contain less alcohol (to prevent dryness), our testers appreciated that the scent lingers all day long.
    Sophia Panych, Allure, 16 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Eyes Shop your favorite category or keep scrolling for the year's very best mascaras, brow gels, and eye-shadow palettes.
    Sophia Panych, Allure, 16 Sep. 2025
  • Adding flip-flops kept it less serious.
    Libby Page, Vogue, 16 Sep. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Curb.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/curb. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.

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