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
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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
The officers ultimately handcuffed Cuellar and applied leg restraints.
—
Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 13 June 2025
Majid Saeedi | Getty Images News | Getty Images
World leaders are calling for restraint after Israel launched a series of airstrikes on Iran early Friday morning, in an escalation of regional tensions.
—Sophie Kiderlin, CNBC, 13 June 2025
Even when his cousin and his new ally, Summer (AnnaSophia Robb), are threatened, Pierre never lets go of the grounding restraint of that man who sat outside the police station simply asking to be heard.
—Hunter Ingram, Variety, 12 June 2025
This is another area in which the general manager is attempting to utilize restraint.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 12 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for restraint
Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 13 June 2025
Majid Saeedi | Getty Images News | Getty Images
World leaders are calling for restraint after Israel launched a series of airstrikes on Iran early Friday morning, in an escalation of regional tensions.
—Sophie Kiderlin, CNBC, 13 June 2025
Even when his cousin and his new ally, Summer (AnnaSophia Robb), are threatened, Pierre never lets go of the grounding restraint of that man who sat outside the police station simply asking to be heard.
—Hunter Ingram, Variety, 12 June 2025
This is another area in which the general manager is attempting to utilize restraint.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 12 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for restraint
Recent Examples of Synonyms for restraint
Noun
-
This kind of discipline builds clarity, momentum and trust.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
24 June 2025
-
Portes, formerly of DePaul, took over as chair in 2024 and has overhauled the school’s undergraduate theater program, with plans to gradually grow the graduate acting cohorts and other disciplines.—
Caitlin Huston,
HollywoodReporter,
23 June 2025
Noun
-
In April, the Trump administration implemented new regulations that blocked sales of Nvidia’s H20 AI chip, which had been designed to comply with earlier restrictions.—
Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
26 June 2025
-
Perhaps wary of the privacy implications, Google rolled out its Find Hub network (previously Find My Device) with harsh restrictions on where device finding would work.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
25 June 2025
Noun
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After all, this lakeside community — home to Northwestern University — was the epicenter of the American temperance movement.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
23 June 2025
-
Having unexpectedly come into a fortune when her husband died last season, Ada is putting her inheritance to use backing settlement houses and, to the horror of her sister Agnes, the temperance movement.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
23 June 2025
Noun
-
Decades of repression, economic mismanagement and growing legitimacy crises have left the regime weakened at home.—
Pegah Banihashemi,
Chicago Tribune,
25 June 2025
-
This was not just a strike on a symbol of repression.—
Siamak Namazi,
Time,
25 June 2025
Noun
-
Democratic governors pointed to financial constraints and anticipated federal funding cuts as primary reasons for reversing course.—
Nick Mordowanec,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 June 2025
-
The team is already looking to expand the model to account for real-world constraints, such as regional resource availability, cost, and lifecycle performance.—
Ron Schmelzer,
Forbes.com,
20 June 2025
Noun
-
The nerves were palpable throughout before Vondroušová streaked away with the deciding set, taking the match 7-6 (12-10), 4-6, 6-2.—
Leon Imber,
New York Times,
22 June 2025
-
The Englishman, chasing his first PGA Tour win and clearly feeling the nerves, went back and forth on his approach shot before swapping his 9-iron for his pitching wedge at the last second.—
Troy Finnegan,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 June 2025
Noun
-
For how much their environment (interactions with people) impacted them, men showed more inhibition than women.—
Dr. Diane Hamilton,
Forbes.com,
9 June 2025
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Its ability to lower inhibitions and amplify emotions can turn minor arguments into serious, sometimes dangerous conflicts.—
Tribune Content Agency,
Mercury News,
29 May 2025
Noun
-
In my opinion, if the Steelers believe in Rodgers at this stage of his career, their best bet is that the veteran can use his brain and his experience to work around any physical limitations.—
Mike DeFabo,
New York Times,
19 June 2025
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This protection mechanism has clear limitations, though.—
Kara Dennison,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Restraint.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/restraint. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.
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