RESTRAIN Synonyms: 98 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'restrain' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of restrain are bridle , check , and curb . While all these words mean "to hold back from or control in doing something," restrain suggests holding back by force or persuasion from acting or from going to extremes. // restrained themselves from laughing

Q: When could 'bridle' be used to replace 'restrain'?

The words bridle and restrain can be used in similar contexts, but bridle implies keeping under control by subduing or holding in. // bridle an impulse to throw the book down

Q: When can 'check' be used instead of 'restrain'?

The words check and restrain are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, check implies restraining or impeding a progress, activity, or impetus. // trying to check government spending

Q: Where would 'curb' be a reasonable alternative to 'restrain'?

Although the words curb and restrain have much in common, curb suggests an abrupt or drastic checking. // learn to curb your appetite

restrain

verb

ri-ˈstrān

Definition of restrain

as in to regulate

to keep from exceeding a desirable degree or level (as of expression) the victim's family members were unable to restrain their emotions upon hearing the verdict

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to arrest

to take or keep under one's control by authority of law the suspect was restrained and taken to an undisclosed location

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb restrain contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of restrain are bridle, check, and curb. While all these words mean "to hold back from or control in doing something," restrain suggests holding back by force or persuasion from acting or from going to extremes.

restrained themselves from laughing

When could bridle be used to replace restrain?

The words bridle and restrain can be used in similar contexts, but bridle implies keeping under control by subduing or holding in.

bridle an impulse to throw the book down

When can check be used instead of restrain?

The words check and restrain are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, check implies restraining or impeding a progress, activity, or impetus.

trying to check government spending

Where would curb be a reasonable alternative to restrain?

Although the words curb and restrain have much in common, curb suggests an abrupt or drastic checking.

learn to curb your appetite

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 restrain Multiple women told police that Weinberg lured them to his home, almost always under the guise of a photo shoot, before restraining and assaulting them. — Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026 Even after the attacker was restrained, passengers remained terrified. — Mitchell McCluskey, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2026 Once passengers and crew restrained the attacker, the aircraft could be stabilized and redirected toward a suitable airport. — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 30 Sep. 2026 Two staff members restrained Christian and the school receptionist called 911. — Joseph Shapiro, NPR, 30 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for restrain

Recent Examples of Synonyms for restrain

Verb

Earlier this year, the administration rescinded the 2009 Endangerment Finding, claiming the Clean Air Act does not give the Environmental Protection Agency authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions.

— Callie Patteson, The Washington Examiner, 1 Oct. 2026
Four add-ons—acupuncture, intralipid infusion (fat injections intended to regulate the immune system) and platelet-rich-plasma (PRP), or blood injections, in the uterus and ovaries—had either mixed evidence or low quality data backing them up.

— Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of regulate

Verb

The teen and his parents were contacted by police Tuesday, and he was arrested on suspicion of felony vandalism.

— Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 2 Oct. 2026
He was arrested about 20 miles south of his hometown in East Palestine, Ohio, where police were conducting a prostitution sting at a mobile home park.

— Erick Mendoza, NBC news, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of arrest

Verb

While the Houthis control most of the people, the PLC controls most of the resources and money.

— Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 4 Oct. 2026
The new company will be controlled by the Ellison family alongside Gerry Cardinale, founder and managing partner of RedBird Capital Partners.

— Todd Spangler, Variety, 3 Oct. 2026

Definition of control

Verb

Oviedo also alleged that bundles of cash seized from an ambulance leaving Mariaca’s home in the city of Santa Cruz early Thursday were proceeds of extortion targeting people who sought help from prosecutors.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026
Azerbaijan has denied these allegations, but the country is a major oil supplier to Israel, which might be enough to push Tehran to try to seize Nakhichevan, an Azerbaijani exclave on the Iranian border.

— Mohammad Ayatollahi Tabaar, Foreign Affairs, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of seize

Verb

In my own experiment, Claude was able to recognize that my genome file did not contain enough information to make reliable conclusions regarding genetic risk scores for common diseases.

— Euan Ashley, STAT, 1 Oct. 2026
Just minutes later, Meyer transferred $10,000 from a fund account containing only investor money to the Meyer Global Partners account.

— Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of contain

Verb

Efforts to curb the distribution and use of opioids have since resulted in an arms race between drug manufacturers and surveillance programs.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 30 Sep. 2026
Previous attempts to curb ICE activity in California have run into legal roadblocks after the White House sent the National Guard to quell protests in Los Angeles last year.

— Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 29 Sep. 2026

Definition of curb

Verb

The woman fled the scene, but a police helicopter spotted her car and followed it to a Sherman Oaks shopping center parking lot, where the suspect was apprehended about a half-hour following the 911 call.

— Michael Saponara, Billboard, 29 Sep. 2026
He was apprehended that June in Nashville, Tennessee, where Carter signed a confession while under interrogation from a Provo detective.

— CBS News, CBS News, 29 Sep. 2026

Definition of apprehend

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restrained

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“Restrain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/restrain. Accessed 8 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of restrain

verb

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