1
as in controlling
to keep from exceeding a desirable degree or level (as of expression)
the victim's family members were unable to restrain their emotions upon hearing the verdict
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in arresting
to take or keep under one's control by authority of law
the suspect was restrained and taken to an undisclosed location
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 restraining
Police say no wrong-doing The City of North Miami Beach and its police department have maintained their officers followed policy and restraining Falcinelli was for his own protection.
—
Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 24 Feb. 2026
Officers smashed open their window with a weapon before pulling them out and restraining them.
—Isabelle Chapman, CNN Money, 19 Feb. 2026
One officer slips a catch pole over the bird, restraining it as another officer wraps a blanket around the eagle, lifting it off the ice and onto the boat, the video shows.
—Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 18 Feb. 2026
The Legislature should focus on lowering costs by delivering permanent property tax relief, restraining state and local spending, cutting red tape that drives up housing and energy costs, and expanding reliable energy production to keep utilities affordable.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Feb. 2026
Hassett also cited rising productivity stemming from artificial intelligence improvements that is restraining businesses' need to hire.
—Jeff Cox, CNBC, 10 Feb. 2026
Ultimately, officers decided to take him forcibly, restraining him in something called the WRAP, a device comprising a locking shoulder harness, leg restraints and ankle straps.
—Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2026
The video’s footage amplifies the flagrant dishonesty of the Administration’s statements about the threat Alex Pretti posed to the multiple officers who were physically restraining him before he was killed.
—Jem Aswad, Variety, 29 Jan. 2026
Some of the cases filed so far do seem to describe potential assaults on officers, such as a pair of incidents in which two women are alleged to have bitten the fingers of the Border Patrol agents who were restraining them.
—Quinta Jurecic, The Atlantic, 28 Jan. 2026
Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 24 Feb. 2026
Officers smashed open their window with a weapon before pulling them out and restraining them.
—Isabelle Chapman, CNN Money, 19 Feb. 2026
One officer slips a catch pole over the bird, restraining it as another officer wraps a blanket around the eagle, lifting it off the ice and onto the boat, the video shows.
—Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 18 Feb. 2026
The Legislature should focus on lowering costs by delivering permanent property tax relief, restraining state and local spending, cutting red tape that drives up housing and energy costs, and expanding reliable energy production to keep utilities affordable.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Feb. 2026
Hassett also cited rising productivity stemming from artificial intelligence improvements that is restraining businesses' need to hire.
—Jeff Cox, CNBC, 10 Feb. 2026
Ultimately, officers decided to take him forcibly, restraining him in something called the WRAP, a device comprising a locking shoulder harness, leg restraints and ankle straps.
—Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2026
The video’s footage amplifies the flagrant dishonesty of the Administration’s statements about the threat Alex Pretti posed to the multiple officers who were physically restraining him before he was killed.
—Jem Aswad, Variety, 29 Jan. 2026
Some of the cases filed so far do seem to describe potential assaults on officers, such as a pair of incidents in which two women are alleged to have bitten the fingers of the Border Patrol agents who were restraining them.
—Quinta Jurecic, The Atlantic, 28 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for restraining
Verb
-
Others freaked out, not least at the prospect of the Ellisons controlling CNN.—
Jon Allsop,
New Yorker,
27 Feb. 2026
-
Phillips struggled to run long distances while controlling her breathing.—
Samuel O’Neal
February 26,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
People in bureaucratic roles witnessed immigration and customs officers violently arresting people in the court hallways.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
25 Feb. 2026
-
In the past month, community reports began to surface online of immigration agents detaining and arresting people in the Kansas City metro.—
Kendrick Calfee
Updated February 25,
Kansas City Star,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Mitchell Bend residents wanted to incorporate in hopes of regulating noise and pollution from the nearby crypto-mining company.—
Elizabeth Campbell,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
25 Feb. 2026
-
The Justice Department told the Supreme Court that Boulder’s lawsuit is barred by both the Constitution and by the Clean Air Act, the federal law regulating air pollution.—
Maureen Groppe,
USA Today,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Virginia started the second half with a 12-3 run, seizing a 51-47 lead on Mallory’s long 3-pointer.—
Michelle Kaufman,
Miami Herald,
22 Feb. 2026
-
In November 2022, FBI agents carried out a search and seizure warrant at Huntsman’s residence, seizing multiple items.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
21 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
City Council Member Marc Duchen, who represents the neighborhoods rallying for the ordinance, said the new rules would provide officers with a new tool for curbing dangerous driving behavior.—
Austin Sanders,
Austin American Statesman,
26 Feb. 2026
-
The 65-game rule, which was instituted during the 2023-24 season, was aimed at curbing tanking and disincentivizing teams from sitting their stars during the long 82-game season.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Indiana lawmakers are expected to vote on some spotlight-grabbing bills today, including one that would pave the way for the Chicago Bears to move to Hammond, Indiana.—
Kaitlin Lange,
IndyStar,
27 Feb. 2026
-
The Smart House Inc dryer vent cleaner is an effective tool for grabbing lint that clogs hoses.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Four more bags containing a total of about 1,701 grams of marijuana and fentanyl were also allegedly found, as well as drug paraphernalia, police said.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
26 Feb. 2026
-
Steer clear of ammonia, bleach, or cleaning products containing solvents or caustics, as these can remove sealers.—
Caitlin Sole,
Better Homes & Gardens,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Mansfield Police Department Mansfield PD thanked the Missouri and Arkansas Highway Patrols for their help in safely recovering the missing child and apprehending the suspect.—
S.E. Jenkins,
CBS News,
16 Feb. 2026
-
Immigration enforcement efforts in Oklahoma also have focused heavily on apprehending commercial truckers driving on interstate highways.—
Nuria Martinez-Keel,
Oklahoma Voice,
10 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Restraining.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/restraining. Accessed 1 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
