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
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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
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Recent Examples of restraining
The leather straps for restraining limbs are still there on opposite ends underneath stacks of paper.
—
Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Sep. 2025
Darcy said that when a person is resisting officers, their knowledge of the person having pre-existing medical conditions is not enough to prevent them from restraining someone combative.
—Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 21 Sep. 2025
And still other judges, like Campbell, see the rules as unlawfully restraining a labor market in certain instances.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 16 Sep. 2025
If consumers or businesses perceive stablecoins as more practical, the state may face the awkward task of promoting one digital form of the yuan while restraining another.
—Zennon Kapron, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2025
First, both Washington and Beijing now have proven weapons that are restraining the aggressive instincts of the other side.
—Scott Kennedy, Time, 16 Aug. 2025
The dual action – calming runaway inflammation while restraining tumor growth – makes N50 F2 a strong candidate for new anti-cancer therapies.
—New Atlas, 15 Aug. 2025
California Department of Education officials found that school staff used unreasonable and unnecessary force in restraining Max.
—Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 9 Aug. 2025
After restraining Neely that day, Penny remained on scene when police arrived and later explained his actions to several NYPD officers.
—Eric Levenson, CNN, 10 Dec. 2024
Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Sep. 2025
Darcy said that when a person is resisting officers, their knowledge of the person having pre-existing medical conditions is not enough to prevent them from restraining someone combative.
—Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 21 Sep. 2025
And still other judges, like Campbell, see the rules as unlawfully restraining a labor market in certain instances.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 16 Sep. 2025
If consumers or businesses perceive stablecoins as more practical, the state may face the awkward task of promoting one digital form of the yuan while restraining another.
—Zennon Kapron, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2025
First, both Washington and Beijing now have proven weapons that are restraining the aggressive instincts of the other side.
—Scott Kennedy, Time, 16 Aug. 2025
The dual action – calming runaway inflammation while restraining tumor growth – makes N50 F2 a strong candidate for new anti-cancer therapies.
—New Atlas, 15 Aug. 2025
California Department of Education officials found that school staff used unreasonable and unnecessary force in restraining Max.
—Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 9 Aug. 2025
After restraining Neely that day, Penny remained on scene when police arrived and later explained his actions to several NYPD officers.
—Eric Levenson, CNN, 10 Dec. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for restraining
Verb
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However, there's a significant difference between containing and controlling a wildfire.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
25 Sep. 2025
-
The top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Senator Jeanne Shaheen, said the plan outlined subverted Congress's power outlined in the Constitution, controlling how government money is spent, according to Reuters.—
Brendan Cole,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Nighttime Sounds blends social realism with surrealist elements to tell a moving and visually arresting story about the burdens and desires harbored by women in China’s rural villages.—
Patrick Brzeski,
HollywoodReporter,
19 Sep. 2025
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Set in Syracuse in the ‘90s, Blyth plays a police officer tasked with arresting men in public bathrooms when he becomes entangled with one of his targets (Tovey) in a film that’s part love story, part self-discovery and grounded in a nostalgic time before smartphones and dating apps.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Meanwhile, city officials have been discussing the possibility of regulating Airbnb and other short-term rentals.—
Hope Karnopp,
jsonline.com,
25 Sep. 2025
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Big tech companies like Google, Meta, and OpenAI have recently ramped up their lobbying efforts to sway politicians to take a light touch towards regulating AI.—
Lia Russell,
Sacbee.com,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Activist investor Sardar Biglari started his eighth proxy fight against Cracker Barrel, seizing on the chain’s earnings miss, stock slide, and botched $700 million rebrand to argue that CEO Julie Masino and the board have destroyed shareholder value.—
Dave Smith,
Fortune,
18 Sep. 2025
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But many of the best-in-class companies are seizing on the chance to innovate and evolve.—
Shefali Kapadia,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The country’s internet regulator on Monday unveiled a two-month nationwide campaign aimed at curbing pessimism trending on social media, live-streaming and short-video platforms.—
John Liu,
CNN Money,
24 Sep. 2025
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My colleague Dennis Byrski and I have focused on how regulatory transparency plays a role in curbing weak patents.—
Lucy Xiaolu Wang,
The Conversation,
23 Sep. 2025
Verb
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In the footage, a uniformed officer is seen forcibly grabbing the female passenger’s arm and yanking her towards the aisle.—
Colson Thayer,
PEOPLE,
27 Sep. 2025
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Go out there and jump and grabbing balls out of the air.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
27 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Wearing long pants tucked into boot tops and spraying insect repellent containing DEET (a chemical compound common in commercial insect repellents) on socks and pant cuffs to reduce exposure to fleas.—
Fernando Cervantes Jr,
USA Today,
24 Sep. 2025
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Mining and geothermal operations release wastewater containing valuable elements such as cobalt, but current extraction methods are too costly.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The swift police response and use of video surveillance technology proved crucial in identifying and apprehending the shooter.—
Adeola Adeosun,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Sep. 2025
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But also on board the ship that night is this detective who is charged with apprehending Providence.—
Olivia Petty,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
12 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Restraining.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/restraining. Accessed 28 Sep. 2025.
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