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
Dhruv Khullar, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026
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
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
Strikingly, Mary felt that semaglutide had not only curbed her first-order desire to drink but also helped her act on second-order desires.
—Dhruv Khullar, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for curbed
Adjective
-
Thiesse is his antithesis – quiet, controlled and polite.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Not in an overly aggressive way, just pretty controlled, moving the ball around.—
Charlie Eccleshare,
New York Times,
2 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Wagers on prediction markets are considered to be event contracts and are federally regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.—
Carlos Garcia,
Fortune,
1 Mar. 2026
-
That lack of choice is why utilities are heavily regulated and expected to put affordability, reliability, and the public interest first.—
Matt Parr,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Some players appeared inhibited, none more so than winger Leon Bailey.—
Jacob Tanswell,
New York Times,
22 Feb. 2026
-
Callie hangs out with her more inhibited best friend, Minnie Dunn, played spectacularly well by Katherine Mallen Kupferer.—
Baz Bamigboye,
Deadline,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Police also claimed that the bag contained drugs and paraphernalia.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
26 Feb. 2026
-
The court papers are contained in records from Texas, requesting multiple members of Burke’s family appear for questioning by a Los Angeles grand jury.—
Kyung Lah,
CNN Money,
26 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The store’s soft opening this month coincided with the kickoff of the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, and Montelli paid homage to Milan with a minimalist chapter inspired by the city’s architectural codes and restrained elegance.—
Martino Carrera,
Footwear News,
27 Feb. 2026
-
Details are precise, purposeful, and restrained.—
Robb Report Studio,
Robb Report,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The Longhorns were primed to add on to their lead after Casey Borba smoked a leadoff double, but some poor situational hitting behind him kept Texas off the board.—
David Eckert,
Austin American Statesman,
1 Mar. 2026
-
Though surrounded by enemies, Khamenei long kept them at bay.—
Abbas Al Lawati,
CNN Money,
1 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
On Tuesday, Ukraine's air force said Russia had launched 133 drones and one ballistic missile into the country overnight, of which 111 drones were shot down or suppressed.—
David Brennan,
ABC News,
24 Feb. 2026
-
Yas calls Harper to feed her the bogus story that Lisa Dearn suppressed a memo that would have endangered Tender’s application with the banking regulator.—
Amanda Whiting,
Vulture,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Thankfully this time, it won’t be measured in feet.—
Rick Sobey,
Boston Herald,
25 Feb. 2026
-
The impunity of the powerful was measured by the inefficacy of the outraged.—
Joshua Rothman,
New Yorker,
24 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Curbed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/curbed. Accessed 2 Mar. 2026.
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