Synonyms of restraining

restraining

verb

present participle of restrain

1

as in controlling

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

• controlling
• regulating
• curbing
• containing
• keeping
• suppressing
• measuring
• constraining
• inhibiting
• stifling
• taming
• holding
• governing
• ruling
• checking
• stopping
• bridling
• pulling in
• interrupting
• repressing
• swallowing
• strangling
• smothering
• impeding
• hindering
• reining (in)
• blocking
• obstructing
• arresting
• hampering
• choking (back)
• silencing
• holding back
• muffling
• sinking
• bottling (up)
• squelching
• mincing
• handcuffing
• pocketing
• muzzling
• gagging

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• losing
• loosening
• liberating
• expressing
• venting
• unleashing
• taking out
• loosing
• airing

2

as in arresting

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

• arresting
• seizing
• grabbing
• apprehending
• detaining
• pinching
• nailing
• committing
• capturing
• snatching
• nicking
• running in
• pulling in
• busting
• jailing
• nabbing
• collaring
• trapping
• imprisoning
• confining
• catching
• picking up
• incarcerating
• snaring
• hooking
• handcuffing
• holding
• grappling
• binding
• bagging
• shackling
• snapping (up)
• landing
• locking (up)
• getting
• fettering
• remanding
• interning
• enchaining
• jugging
• immuring
• trammeling
• manacling
• rearresting

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• discharging
• freeing
• releasing
• loosening
• springing
• liberating
• emancipating
• loosing
• unbinding
• unchaining

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of restraining

The incident Sunday involved the top fashion executive forcibly restraining two employees of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and putting his hands over their mouths at the runway show for Cos, a brand owned by H&M. — CNN Money, 19 Sep. 2026

Shortages of skilled labor are restraining production in defense firms and across the economy, compounded by the emigration of several hundred thousand mostly younger people due to fears of conscription and political repression. — ABC News, 18 Sep. 2026

There is no justification for physically restraining another person. — Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 15 Sep. 2026

Council of Fashion Designers of America CEO Steven Kolb was recorded physically restraining animal rights activists who disrupted a Cos runway show. — Shane O’Neill, Washington Post, 13 Sep. 2026

Video from Citizen App showed another person trying to keep the pit bull away and then a police officer restraining the dog with a snare pole, leading it away as first responders attended to the victim. — Carlos E. Castañeda, CBS News, 8 Sep. 2026

Appropriately so, given the placid recent range and the clockwork mechanics of sector rotation and low-correlation restraining index-level volatility. — Michael Santoli, CNBC, 31 Aug. 2026

This was the context for Justice Brewer’s remarks about Philip sober restraining Philip drunk. — Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026

But Gorsuch also wrote that an individual conference, through its members’ voting, can adopt various rules restraining athletes’ potential compensation as conference members see fit. — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 25 Aug. 2026