1
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
2
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of restrain
This struggle creates a tension that keeps the whole system in equilibrium, restraining those who would abuse their authority.
—
Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 24 Apr. 2025
Supreme Court's 2024 Gun Rights Ruling In 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a significant ruling in United States v. Rahimi, upholding a federal law that prohibits individuals under domestic violence restraining orders from possessing firearms.
—Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Apr. 2025
That Meta would be trying to restrain an EU out to harm its business is self-explanatory.
—John Tamny, Forbes.com, 20 Apr. 2025
Rosemary restrained herself from scratching at her wig.
—Susannah Cahalan, Rolling Stone, 17 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for restrain
Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 24 Apr. 2025
Supreme Court's 2024 Gun Rights Ruling In 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a significant ruling in United States v. Rahimi, upholding a federal law that prohibits individuals under domestic violence restraining orders from possessing firearms.
—Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Apr. 2025
That Meta would be trying to restrain an EU out to harm its business is self-explanatory.
—John Tamny, Forbes.com, 20 Apr. 2025
Rosemary restrained herself from scratching at her wig.
—Susannah Cahalan, Rolling Stone, 17 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for restrain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for restrain
Verb
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Its double-sided design keeps your body temperature regulated all night long, with one side made of cool gel memory and the other of breathable bamboo viscose.—
Toni Sutton,
People.com,
27 Apr. 2025
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The panelists agreed that a focused, narrow bill regulating stablecoins could help cement the U.S. dollar’s dominance in a digital future.—
Nik Popli,
Time,
26 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Seven other colleagues had been arrested in January 2024 but were later acquitted into house arrest or released under travel bans.—
One Free Press Coalition,
Time,
1 May 2025
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Accused of being gang members Millan was moved to Bluebonnet in mid-April from the Stewart detention center in Lumpkin, Georgia, where he had been held since he was arrested by immigration agents in the Atlanta suburbs on March 12, according to a senior Department of Homeland Security official.—
USA Today,
USA Today,
1 May 2025
Verb
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With McDavid on the ice, the Oilers are controlling 69 percent of chances at even strength.—
James Mirtle,
New York Times,
29 Apr. 2025
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Instead, Merz says, HPV probably increases the risk of heart disease by causing inflammation, which occurs as the immune system attempts to control the virus.—
Liz Szabo,
Scientific American,
29 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Officials seized less than 50 pounds of fentanyl along the U.S. northern border in the 2024 fiscal year, according to the AP, citing U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) data.—
Mohammed Soliman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Apr. 2025
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Attackers could seize on the pattern by identifying nonexistent packages that are repeatedly hallucinated.—
Dan Goodin,
ArsTechnica,
29 Apr. 2025
Verb
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So Koester compiled a database that now contains more than 500,000 missing person searches dating back to the 1970s.—
N'dea Yancey-Bragg,
USA Today,
3 May 2025
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In fact, some of his other works contain plenty of illustrations, especially for depicting species.—
Danny Robb,
JSTOR Daily,
2 May 2025
Verb
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Rams: After winning the 2024 draft, their biggest news this year was Sean McVay & Co. grabbing the Falcons’ 2026 first-round pick.—
Jacob Robinson,
New York Times,
1 May 2025
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Marsh male warbler simultaneously serenades its partner while grabbing a quick snack.—
Cecilia Rodriguez,
Forbes.com,
1 May 2025
Verb
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Trump executive order takes 'strong action' to curb fentanyl flow from Chinese imports Iowa Attorney Gen. Brenna Bird voices her support for a Trump executive order to close a trade loophole to curb the flow of fentanyl in the U.S. and Democrats' struggle to connect with voters.—
Peter D'Abrosca,
FOXNews.com,
23 Apr. 2025
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China’s one-child policy, which was in place from 1979 until 2015 to curb population growth by limiting most families to one child, is one topic the young filmmaker says his current cinematic creations deal with.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
23 Apr. 2025
Verb
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At the time, he was apprehended by Border Patrol and turned over to the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) before being placed with a sponsor in Memphis.—
Greg Wehner , Bill Melugin,
FOXNews.com,
2 May 2025
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Agents apprehended him in just a few minutes, parked his car off the road and drove away with him in a van.—
Stephanie Elam,
CNN Money,
2 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Restrain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/restrain. Accessed 6 May. 2025.
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