as in to keep (from)
to resist the temptation of
couldn't refrain from ruffling her nephew's neatly combed hair whenever she saw him
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Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for refrain (from)
avoid
Verb
-
This victory was as undeniable as the bond between the seniors on this team who did everything but draw up a pact to avoid a third-straight disappointment on the season’s final day.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
31 May 2026 -
Safe food handling, good hygiene and avoiding contact with cat stool can significantly reduce your risk.—
Dr. Megan Yanny,
Boston Herald,
31 May 2026
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“Refrain (from).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/refrain%20%28from%29. Accessed 1 Jun. 2026.
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