1
as in discipline
the checking of one's true feelings and impulses when dealing with others
it will take a great deal of restraint to keep from telling her how ugly that dress is
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in restriction
something that limits one's freedom of action or choice
civil libertarians contend that the new laws place too many restraints on our constitutionally guaranteed rights
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in temperance
the power to control one's actions, impulses, or emotions
he shows very little restraint or tact when expressing his opinions about others
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of restraint
Dinand reshapes the visual language of perfumery by touching glass with restraint, intelligence and emotion — leaving behind objects that speak before scent is ever released.
—
Sudhir Gupta, Rolling Stone, 4 Feb. 2026
But where the press is free, where the parliament or congress is open, normally, there is some restraint on this kind of behavior by high officials.
—David Frum, The Atlantic, 4 Feb. 2026
He was placed in wrist restraints and seated in the front of the patrol vehicle.
—Michelle L. Quinn, Chicago Tribune, 4 Feb. 2026
On Fat Tuesday, early Christians would binge fatty foods before the Lenten season of fasting and restraint began the next day.
—Alex Driggars, Austin American Statesman, 4 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for restraint
Sudhir Gupta, Rolling Stone, 4 Feb. 2026
But where the press is free, where the parliament or congress is open, normally, there is some restraint on this kind of behavior by high officials.
—David Frum, The Atlantic, 4 Feb. 2026
He was placed in wrist restraints and seated in the front of the patrol vehicle.
—Michelle L. Quinn, Chicago Tribune, 4 Feb. 2026
On Fat Tuesday, early Christians would binge fatty foods before the Lenten season of fasting and restraint began the next day.
—Alex Driggars, Austin American Statesman, 4 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for restraint
Recent Examples of Synonyms for restraint
Noun
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This season, Vonn historically won two more downhill races – becoming the oldest World Cup race winner ever – and leads the season World Cup standings in the discipline.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
3 Feb. 2026
-
Then Goodell pumped the brakes on a full investigation of the matter and on Tisch possibly facing discipline under the league’s personal conduct policy.—
Pat Leonard,
New York Daily News,
3 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Joining him in the back-to-back restriction club was Al Horford, who has played well recently and scored in double figures in three of his last four games.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
27 Jan. 2026
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Quayle said that partially because of new restrictions on Newark flying, United will have aircraft available.—
Ted Reed,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
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In the case of Steve Jobs, his incredible strength in transcendence tips into excess because it is not supported by other dimensions of character, such as patience, calm, and self-regulation that come from temperance, and the humility and humanity to see other points of view.—
Mary Crossan,
Forbes.com,
28 Jan. 2026
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On a single day in 1900, a former schoolteacher destroyed three saloons using bricks, rocks, and a billiard ball—all to advance the cause of temperance.—
The Atlantic Science Desk,
The Atlantic,
27 Dec. 2025
Noun
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Both of these groups included dissidents, victims of the ever-tightening repression.—
Daniel Alarcón,
New Yorker,
7 Feb. 2026
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Students founded the Otpor movement in Serbia in 1998 to resist the regime’s repression of universities.—
Elizabeth Shackelford,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
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These environmental constraints are compounded by human impact.—
Outside,
Outside,
3 Feb. 2026
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The Clintons had been seeking to negotiate terms with Comer to avoid a contempt vote, including to introduce constraints to the duration and scope of questioning, but ultimately agreed to comply with all of Comer’s demands.—
Miranda Jeyaretnam,
Time,
3 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The sell-off comes amid recent nerves about AI eating into software companies’ business models and threatening market share.—
John Towfighi,
CNN Money,
3 Feb. 2026
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Clear numbers calm nerves and protect your energy well today.—
Tarot.com,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Feb. 2026
Noun
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In the brain scans of other extreme athletes and adrenaline junkies, Amen said there’s often lower baseline activity in the prefrontal cortex, which is involved in fear inhibition, impulse control and risk evaluation.—
Angelica Stabile,
FOXNews.com,
30 Jan. 2026
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Narcissists sometimes get worse with age, as their remaining inhibitions fall away.—
David Brooks,
Mercury News,
24 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The study, which was published in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, had several limitations, the researchers acknowledged.—
Khloe Quill,
FOXNews.com,
6 Feb. 2026
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Experts say another common and often overlooked limitation of anticoagulants is that even with the newer generation of the drugs, doctors need to take care to prescribe the appropriate drug and dose for a patient.—
David Cox,
NBC news,
5 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Restraint.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/restraint. Accessed 8 Feb. 2026.
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