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
-
If shipments from these DCs started flowing across the border to the US, that would be evidence that Walmart is looking to avoid transshipment tariffs.—
Steve Banker,
Forbes.com,
5 Aug. 2025 -
Fortunately, this increase will not affect the vast majority of subway riders, most of whom avoid paying the fare altogether by hopping over the turnstile or rushing in through the emergency exit door.—
John Ficarra,
New York Daily News,
5 Aug. 2025
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“Refrain (from).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/refrain%20%28from%29. Accessed 19 Aug. 2025.
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