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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to restrain
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of rein
Liz Teran, Fortune, 12 Sep. 2025
Anyone who’s drinking hot pumpkin spice lattes in a chunky sweater may need to rein it in for a little while.
—Briana Waxman, CNN Money, 11 Sep. 2025
Demetrius Patterson, HollywoodReporter, 23 Oct. 2025
Finch begged for Conley to be more aggressive at various points last season, but the point guard never grabbed the reins with aggression.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 21 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rein
Noun
Resist the urge to rein them in.
—Liz Teran, Fortune, 12 Sep. 2025
Anyone who’s drinking hot pumpkin spice lattes in a chunky sweater may need to rein it in for a little while.
—Briana Waxman, CNN Money, 11 Sep. 2025
Verb
Marie ended his rein by literally expanding his blood vessels to burst his head clean off the rest of his body.
—Demetrius Patterson, HollywoodReporter, 23 Oct. 2025
Finch begged for Conley to be more aggressive at various points last season, but the point guard never grabbed the reins with aggression.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 21 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rein
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rein
Noun
-
Burton spent most of her career — 26 years — at McQueen, ultimately taking the creative helm of the house, somewhat reluctantly, in the wake of the designer’s suicide in 2010.—
Miles Socha,
Footwear News,
28 Oct. 2025
-
Under Seminci director José Luis Cienfuegos, who took over the helm in 2023, the festival’s industrial strategy has become sharper and more collaborative.—
Emiliano De Pablos,
Variety,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
On the table before the two leaders, who met at Busan’s Gimhae Air Base, were a range of thorny issues including tariffs, China’s sweeping export controls on rare earths, US restrictions on Chinese access to American high-tech, and China’s role in the illicit fentanyl trade.—
Betsy Klein,
CNN Money,
30 Oct. 2025
-
As a result, the number of participants in the Miss Universe pageant fluctuates year after year based on certain franchising restrictions and changes.—
Tabitha Parent,
PEOPLE,
29 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Despite the star power in the stands, the Dodgers lost 6-1, meaning the Blue Jays tied the series.—
Ingrid Vasquez,
PEOPLE,
29 Oct. 2025
-
Both outcomes might also blunt the risk of further great-power escalation in this deeply chaotic geopolitical time.—
Mira Rapp-Hooper,
Foreign Affairs,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Video shows one agent restraining the man, then dragging him around as another agent helps pin him to the ground.—
Zoe Sottile,
CNN Money,
3 Nov. 2025
-
In the first five months of 2024, employees of Southern Peaks Regional Treatment Center in Cañon City physically restrained young patients an average of 150 times per month, or five times in a typical day, said Emily Harvey, legal co-director of Disability Law Colorado.—
Meg Wingerter,
Denver Post,
29 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Walls and floors are white, while flashes of color and texture appear in the form of chubby bouclé sofas and chairs or swirling rugs covered in Burberry’s signature shade of deep blue.—
Samantha Conti,
Footwear News,
28 Oct. 2025
-
Co-chairs of the 2025 event include The Daily Beast’s chief content and creative officer Joanna Coles and Interpublic Group’s executive vp, chief client officer and chief business officer Jacki Kelley.—
Chris Gardner,
HollywoodReporter,
28 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
China’s newest aircraft carrier may only be able to conduct air operations at about 60% the rate of a 50-year-old US Navy carrier, two former US carrier officers say, a substantial combat limitation for a vessel meant to revolutionize Beijing’s fleet.—
Brad Lendon,
CNN Money,
26 Oct. 2025
-
The growing demand for sustainable transport, combined with the limitations of public infrastructure, has made personal electric vehicles—particularly e-scooters—a common choice for modern commuters.—
Matt Emma,
USA Today,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
No need to curb your enthusiasm here because Tony Hawk did a pretty, pretty good job disguising himself as the legendary Larry David.—
Diana Pearl,
PEOPLE,
31 Oct. 2025
-
The decision is part of a stricter policy approach of the Republican administration toward curbing migration and restricting refugee admissions.—
Billal Rahman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
What’s more, Microsoft will remain capacity constrained for the remainder of the fiscal year, Hood said.—
Andrew Nusca,
Fortune,
30 Oct. 2025
-
Historians like Birgit Tremml-Werner point out how the Empresa was actually embedded in — and constrained by — wider patterns of trade, diplomacy, and missionary activity.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
29 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rein.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rein. Accessed 5 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share