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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of restraining
Today, oil and shipping reporter Weilun Soon says the mayhem in the Persian Gulf doesn’t bode well for both ending the war and restraining crude prices.
—
Weilun Soon, Bloomberg, 20 Apr. 2026
The security team and members of the church assisted the guard in restraining Mbwavi.
—Michael Sinkewicz, FOXNews.com, 8 Apr. 2026
In the rush by corporations to monetize AI investment by increasing efficiency and reducing workforce costs, restraining a surge of AI takeovers is a concern.
—Greg Mellen, Oc Register, 6 Apr. 2026
Keller police have charged a Shady Grove Elementary special education teacher with unlawfully restraining a 4‑year‑old student after investigators corroborated a parent's report with statements from school staff.
—Doug Myers, CBS News, 3 Apr. 2026
On Sunday, a video appearing to show immigration agents restraining a crying woman in front of her child at San Francisco International Airport circulated on social media platforms.
—Sacbee.com, 23 Mar. 2026
The spike in oil prices risks adding to inflationary pressures and restraining the economy.
—Bloomberg Wire, Dallas Morning News, 18 Mar. 2026
Jax did not bother restraining emotion.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 10 Mar. 2026
But if the rate of growth in broad money is controlled, then higher spending on oil and gasoline will be offset by lower spending on other items, restraining overall inflation.
—Steve H. Hanke, Fortune, 9 Mar. 2026
Weilun Soon, Bloomberg, 20 Apr. 2026
The security team and members of the church assisted the guard in restraining Mbwavi.
—Michael Sinkewicz, FOXNews.com, 8 Apr. 2026
In the rush by corporations to monetize AI investment by increasing efficiency and reducing workforce costs, restraining a surge of AI takeovers is a concern.
—Greg Mellen, Oc Register, 6 Apr. 2026
Keller police have charged a Shady Grove Elementary special education teacher with unlawfully restraining a 4‑year‑old student after investigators corroborated a parent's report with statements from school staff.
—Doug Myers, CBS News, 3 Apr. 2026
On Sunday, a video appearing to show immigration agents restraining a crying woman in front of her child at San Francisco International Airport circulated on social media platforms.
—Sacbee.com, 23 Mar. 2026
The spike in oil prices risks adding to inflationary pressures and restraining the economy.
—Bloomberg Wire, Dallas Morning News, 18 Mar. 2026
Jax did not bother restraining emotion.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 10 Mar. 2026
But if the rate of growth in broad money is controlled, then higher spending on oil and gasoline will be offset by lower spending on other items, restraining overall inflation.
—Steve H. Hanke, Fortune, 9 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for restraining
Verb
-
Her students have more trouble controlling their bodies and expressing their feelings.—
Stacker,
Hartford Courant,
9 May 2026
-
Federal officials recently launched a prize competition to reward ideas for controlling the flow of aquatic species into and out of the ballasts of boats that travel among the various lakes and waterways across the United States.—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA Today,
7 May 2026
Verb
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After arresting the man, the complaint says police found a black iPhone tucked between the driver's seat and the center console in his car.—
WCCO Staff,
CBS News,
13 May 2026
-
The movie fumbles the chance to do something arresting with this seminal period in art.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
12 May 2026
Verb
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Makary, a surgical oncologist known for criticizing the government’s handling of the Covid pandemic, served as head of the agency responsible for regulating food, drugs and medical devices for more than a year.—
Annika Kim Constantino,Angelica Peebles,
CNBC,
12 May 2026
-
All this while the federal government’s main tool for regulating medical software, the Food and Drug Administration’s device-approval process, is structurally unfit for regulating autonomous clinical AI.—
Alon Bergman,
STAT,
11 May 2026
Verb
-
Bianco also faces scrutiny for seizing more than 650,000 election ballots in what critics call a baseless fraud investigation.—
Hailey Wang,
Los Angeles Times,
9 May 2026
-
Four protesters are suing to stop the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) from seizing DNA samples from Americans arrested while peacefully protesting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity.—
Ashley Belanger,
ArsTechnica,
7 May 2026
Verb
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The most ambitious legislative attempt at curbing presidential war-making was the War Powers Resolution of 1973, passed by Congress over a veto by President Richard Nixon.—
James Cramer,
Baltimore Sun,
11 May 2026
-
Those policies fall short of more concrete reforms on tear gas and pepper spray use that many local police departments have been forced to adopt as a result of lawsuits or laws aimed at curbing excessive force.—
Lisa Song,
ProPublica,
7 May 2026
Verb
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Other complaints had to do with the Puerto Rican rap star grabbing his crotch, and with two dancers who allegedly grabbed each other's breasts (which, if true, is a wild dance move).—
Matt Reigle OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
9 May 2026
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Particularly since the savings made in service-staff costs and brick-and-mortar bar space, not to mention the affordability of buying booze here in China's RMB currency, aren't that far off grabbing a can or bottle from a nearby 24-hour convenience store.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
8 May 2026
Verb
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Boxes from the White House, some containing classified material, had been found crammed into a bathroom at Mar-a-Lago, next to a toilet and below a crystal chandelier.—
Ruth Marcus,
New Yorker,
14 May 2026
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Planters containing other trees and perennials, including hazel, hawthorn, field maples, ferns, and grasses, will continue the forest theme through the colonnade to the main entrance.—
Anne Doran,
ARTnews.com,
14 May 2026
Verb
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In the video shared exclusively with Fox News by ICE, officers are seen apprehending and arresting the Honduran national.—
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten , Danamarie McNicholl,
FOXNews.com,
9 May 2026
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The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 compelled authorities in northern free states to assist in apprehending and returning those who escaped back to slavery.—
Jeremy Mennis,
The Conversation,
1 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Restraining.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/restraining. Accessed 15 May. 2026.
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