as in controlled
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as in regulated
to keep from exceeding a desirable degree or level (as of expression)
try to curb your curiosity when it comes to your neighbors' business
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Recent Examples of curbed
Literary Hub, 5 Nov. 2025
Jolene Almendarez, Cincinnati Enquirer, 2 Feb. 2026
But Wednesday’s announcement also curbed the possibility of a Northland stadium, a location heavily promoted by state leaders in Jefferson City.
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 28 Jan. 2026
These efforts have hardly curbed skepticism of the regime.
—Nahid Siamdoust, The Atlantic, 23 Jan. 2026
The Smith Act, passed in 1940, curbed speech that advocated the violent overthrow of the government.
—Stephanie A, The Conversation, 22 Jan. 2026
Economic challenges have also curbed demand, while top grower Brazil is heading toward another bumper harvest.
—Hallie Gu, Arkansas Online, 21 Jan. 2026
Calf and ankle injuries unfortunately curbed a few of his opportunities down the stretch.
—Charlotte Observer, 11 Jan. 2026
While the recommendations could discourage Americans from spending at restaurants — especially at a time when high inflation has curbed trips to dine out — some pockets of the industry had a positive reaction to the changes.
—Kate Rogers,amelia Lucas, CNBC, 8 Jan. 2026
Even more public-identifying figures on Letterboxd — like Sean Baker — have curbed their activity on the platform, and other stars like Ayo Edebiri (and now Williams) deleted their accounts entirely.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 8 Jan. 2026
Adjective
The lack of sufficient post-conflict planning—about what would happen after Gaddafi’s regime was toppled—curbed enthusiasm for future collective security efforts in Syria and elsewhere.
—Literary Hub, 5 Nov. 2025
Verb
Since then, several hospitals have curbed or stopped providing gender-affirming care for minors.
—Jolene Almendarez, Cincinnati Enquirer, 2 Feb. 2026
But Wednesday’s announcement also curbed the possibility of a Northland stadium, a location heavily promoted by state leaders in Jefferson City.
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 28 Jan. 2026
These efforts have hardly curbed skepticism of the regime.
—Nahid Siamdoust, The Atlantic, 23 Jan. 2026
The Smith Act, passed in 1940, curbed speech that advocated the violent overthrow of the government.
—Stephanie A, The Conversation, 22 Jan. 2026
Economic challenges have also curbed demand, while top grower Brazil is heading toward another bumper harvest.
—Hallie Gu, Arkansas Online, 21 Jan. 2026
Calf and ankle injuries unfortunately curbed a few of his opportunities down the stretch.
—Charlotte Observer, 11 Jan. 2026
While the recommendations could discourage Americans from spending at restaurants — especially at a time when high inflation has curbed trips to dine out — some pockets of the industry had a positive reaction to the changes.
—Kate Rogers,amelia Lucas, CNBC, 8 Jan. 2026
Even more public-identifying figures on Letterboxd — like Sean Baker — have curbed their activity on the platform, and other stars like Ayo Edebiri (and now Williams) deleted their accounts entirely.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 8 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for curbed
Adjective
-
Not in an overly aggressive way, just pretty controlled, moving the ball around.—
Charlie Eccleshare,
New York Times,
2 Dec. 2025
-
This concentration of energy creates a tiny, controlled burn that interrupts the faulty circuit causing the tremor.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
For example, trade of African grey parrots (Psittacus erithacus) is strictly regulated.—
Eve Bohnett,
Fortune,
8 Feb. 2026
-
At the same time, fortification is voluntary and only regulated for safety and labeling accuracy.—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
6 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
There are students who feel inhibited from expressing their Jewish or Zionist identity because of the atmosphere of the atmosphere of intimidation or harassment on college campuses.—
Andrew Stanton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Aug. 2025
-
Nini and Lali seemed happier without him—more relaxed, less inhibited.—
Tao Lin,
Harpers Magazine,
20 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
The best-selling book contained several bombshell revelations, many of which were related to Spears’ controversial conservatorship, which finally ended in 2021.—
Emily Zemler,
Rolling Stone,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Fungi fossils preserved in the chert contained compounds from the breakdown of chitin and glucan, key structural molecules in fungi.—
Katie Hunt,
CNN Money,
5 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
On the street, the Mazda3 hatchback carries itself with a restrained yet purposeful elegance.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
7 Feb. 2026
-
Arnold’s Heathcliff is much more fully developed as a character, in part due to the more restrained performances and Arnold’s highly sensory style.—
Cazzie David,
Vogue,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Pape Matar Sarr and Xavi Simons picked up the ball in dangerous areas, Dominic Solanke dragged Harry Maguire out of position, and Destiny Udogie kept flashing crosses into the box.—
Jay Harris,
New York Times,
8 Feb. 2026
-
The Chinese coffee company continued to operate many of its stores — and kept its name and logo.—
Evelyn Cheng,
CNBC,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Ukraine's air force said Russia launched two missiles and 183 drones into the country overnight, of which 156 drones were shot down or suppressed.—
David Brennan,
ABC News,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Congress was sidelined, independent media was suppressed, and opponents were detained, all under a veneer of legal authority.—
Alejandro Reyes,
Washington Post,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Suddenly, emotional skills that could not be measured by an IQ test, like self-awareness, empathy, and self-regulation, were recognized as essential to a successful life.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
3 Feb. 2026
-
What the administration calls uncertainty is actually inconvenience — the inconvenience of having to acknowledge that corporate profits come at a cost measured in human lives.—
Michelle A. Williams,
STAT,
2 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Curbed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/curbed. Accessed 10 Feb. 2026.
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