as in keeping (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 refraining (from)
avoiding
Verb
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According to Ruby, seven of the 20 or so churches in G92, a Christian immigrant advocacy coalition in the city, are ready to offer physical sanctuary, though many are avoiding publicity for fear of harassment.—
Caitlin Hu,
CNN Money,
20 Feb. 2026 -
To do so, Nguyen advises maintaining proper form, controlling the weight through the full range of motion and avoiding any movement that causes sudden pain.—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
19 Feb. 2026
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“Refraining (from).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/refraining%20%28from%29. Accessed 24 Feb. 2026.
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