Synonyms of rein

rein 1 of 2

noun

ˈrān 

1

as in helm

usually reins plural the place of leadership or command

after the president resigned, the vice president stepped in and took the reins of the company

Synonyms & Similar Words

• helm
• chair
• presidency
• seat
• head
• lead
• headship
• driver's seat
• governorship
• throne
• forefront
• sway
• directorship
• dictatorship
• dominance
• chieftainship
• dominion
• top
• mastery
• vanguard
• upper hand
• generalship
• commandership
• chairmanship
• kingship
• jurisdiction
• superintendency
• mastership
• sovereignty
• premiership
• height
• deanship
• pinnacle
• captainship
• presidentship
• eminence
• pedestal

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• ranks

2

as in restriction

the act or practice of keeping something (as an activity) within certain boundaries

the oversight committee called on the state to keep a much tighter rein on the activities of its contractors

Synonyms & Similar Words

• restriction
• limitation
• confinement
• constraint
• restraint
• stint
• circumscription
• isolation
• segregation
• containment

3

as in power

usually reins plural the right or means to command or control others

a peaceful transfer of the reins of government has always been a hallmark of our nation

Synonyms & Similar Words

• power
• reign
• control
• sway
• arm
• dominion
• authority
• influence
• grip
• mastery
• clutch
• command
• hold
• death grip
• leverage
• pull
• management
• direction
• voice
• jurisdiction
• privilege
• clout
• dominance
• right
• prerogative
• weight
• importance
• predominance
• supremacy
• sovereignty
• moment
• imperium
• eminence

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• impotence
• powerlessness
• weakness
• helplessness
• impotency

rein

2 of 2

verb

as in to restrain

Related Words

• restrain
• curb
• constrain
• hinder
• impede
• stymie
• check
• balk
• interfere (with)
• hamper
• hobble
• cramp
• inhibit
• brake
• fetter
• tie up
• tie
• obstruct
• shackle
• encumber
• bind
• tether
• hold back
• embarrass
• handcuff
• handicap
• clog
• retard
• retain
• hog-tie
• delay
• leash
• short-circuit
• halter
• chain
• arrest
• trammel
• thwart
• stifle
• manacle
• block
• blockade
• hold up
• barricade
• bog (down)
• mire
• strangle
• smother
• foil
• choke
• derail
• disrupt
• frustrate
• suffocate
• muzzle
• sabotage
• repress
• stump
• roadblock
• baffle
• suppress

Dissimilar Words

• help
• assist
• facilitate
• aid
• open
• liberate
• clear
• make way
• free
• release
• loosen
• encourage
• promote
• unplug
• unclog
• untie
• unstop
• smooth
• further

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of rein

Noun

After Grace’s death, Albert took over the reins of the Monaco Red Cross, which included overseeing the gala. — Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 22 July 2026

In 2013, 20 years after Army of Darkness, Spanish filmmaker Fede Álvarez was handed the reins for a soft reboot of The Evil Dead. — Brianna Zigler, Entertainment Weekly, 10 July 2026

Verb

And then trying to find the physicality of that, and how far to push it, and how far to rein it in, and that balance, that sort of tightrope. — Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 6 May 2026

Anderson admits that her sons, Brandon and Dylan, had to conceptually rein her in. — Elise Taylor, Vanity Fair, 8 Apr. 2026

Phrases Containing rein

• rein (in)