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
The outlet also reported that former employee Kelsi Carlisle, who is accused of pulling a child by the arm and pushing them face-down on a mat while restraining them with her body weight, faces two counts of endangering the welfare of a child.
—
Sean Neumann, PEOPLE, 2 June 2026
Trump’s interest in antitrust enforcement predictably has little to do with restraining corporate power and is largely consumed with leveraging regulatory threats to compel firms to support his political agenda.
—Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 26 May 2026
Two men were sentenced to years in prison after pleading guilty to felony second-degree kidnapping for luring a man to the Eagle Foothills on an offer of a photography shoot, but then tasing, restraining and beating him last fall.
—Kevin Fixler, Idaho Statesman, 22 May 2026
Beyond that, in a TVLine interview, Kripke addressed the criticism that Marie Moreau, the blood-bending supe who can do everything from restraining supes to exploding them to literally raising the dead, was being portrayed as someone who could not take on Homelander.
—Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026
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
Sean Neumann, PEOPLE, 2 June 2026
Trump’s interest in antitrust enforcement predictably has little to do with restraining corporate power and is largely consumed with leveraging regulatory threats to compel firms to support his political agenda.
—Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 26 May 2026
Two men were sentenced to years in prison after pleading guilty to felony second-degree kidnapping for luring a man to the Eagle Foothills on an offer of a photography shoot, but then tasing, restraining and beating him last fall.
—Kevin Fixler, Idaho Statesman, 22 May 2026
Beyond that, in a TVLine interview, Kripke addressed the criticism that Marie Moreau, the blood-bending supe who can do everything from restraining supes to exploding them to literally raising the dead, was being portrayed as someone who could not take on Homelander.
—Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for restraining
Verb
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By controlling fluid flow within the system, the device can gently squeeze the wearer's finger and wrist to recreate realistic touch sensations, demonstrating potential applications in virtual reality, teleoperation, rehabilitation, and next-generation wearable interfaces.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
12 June 2026
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These sugars play an important role in controlling how cells interact with their surroundings.—
Charles J. Dimitroff,
The Conversation,
12 June 2026
Verb
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After all, the name Polly Adler is known in and of itself, and arresting me for pandering is a feather in the cap for any cop or assistant district attorney.—
Danielle Parker,
CBS News,
9 June 2026
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Police responded to a call for battery/domestic violence at a residence in West Hills prior to arresting Jackson.—
Adam Grosbard,
Oc Register,
9 June 2026
Verb
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Such a drone boat is supposedly capable of continuous, autonomous loiter operations in which the Corsair maintains its position while autonomously regulating power consumption and only engaging its engine when needed, according to a Saronic blog post.—
Jeremy Hsu,
ArsTechnica,
9 June 2026
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The court’s abdication of its modern responsibility for supervising electoral democracy seems to rest on the naive belief that democracy will succeed in regulating itself.—
Noah Feldman,
Mercury News,
9 June 2026
Verb
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Syrian authorities regularly boast of seizing weapons headed for Lebanon.—
Mick Krever,
CNN Money,
6 June 2026
-
Still, seizing ships doesn’t seem like a very effective way to fill the Treasury’s coffers, and embracing freebooting carries risks besides financial ones.—
David A. Graham,
The Atlantic,
4 June 2026
Verb
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Over time, as the fines began to stack up, the FMF began to launch campaigns aimed at curbing the chant.—
Jack Lang,
New York Times,
11 June 2026
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If the administration’s push to bring back imports does end up curbing grocery-store prices, ranchers’ loss will be consumers’ gain.—
Will Gottsegen,
The Atlantic,
9 June 2026
Verb
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The suspects asked if Apple Pay was accepted before grabbing a box of cash.—
Emily Shapiro,
ABC News,
12 June 2026
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Jose Alvarado also got physical in Game 4, grabbing one of Wembanyama's legs during a hard foul.—
Alejandro Avila OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
11 June 2026
Verb
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Officials provided no information on crews’ progress in containing the blaze.—
Karen Garcia,
Los Angeles Times,
12 June 2026
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New analysis published today by the Society for the Protection of Underground Networks (SPUN) reveals there are over 621 trillion miles of fungal pathways containing around 300 megatons of carbon within Earth’s topsoils.—
Andrew Paul,
Popular Science,
11 June 2026
Verb
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The Nodaway County Sheriff’s Office, United States Marshals Service and New Mexico State Police assisted in apprehending Jones, Hann said.—
Caroline Zimmerman
May 28,
Kansas City Star,
28 May 2026
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Federal immigration agents fanned across the city, apprehending workers at car washes, garment businesses, Home Depots and other locations.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
27 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Restraining.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/restraining. Accessed 14 Jun. 2026.
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