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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for refrain (from)
avoid
Verb
-
Set up gentle boundaries during family talks to avoid old loops.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
8 Mar. 2026 -
The best approach is simply to avoid the area until cleanup is actually possible.—
Katie Strasberg Rousso,
Southern Living,
7 Mar. 2026
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“Refrain (from).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/refrain%20%28from%29. Accessed 11 Mar. 2026.
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