RESTRAINT Synonyms: 107 Similar and Opposite Words

restraint

noun

ri-ˈstrānt

Definition of restraint

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

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of restraint Safety by default standards also place limits on the manipulation, algorithmic restraint and other addictive mechanisms that may lead to psychological harm in vulnerable populations such as young people. — Ari Lightman, The Conversation, 16 Oct. 2026 In his friendships, Mandell imposed a restraint that made possible the free flow of emotional generosity. — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026 Erica Billups said her son and daughter rode Goliath about an hour before Kariem’s death and encountered a problem with the restraint on one seat. — ABC News, 15 Oct. 2026 Yet Schmidt has the advantage of legislative experience and a clearly articulated commitment to fiscal restraint. — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 14 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for restraint

Recent Examples of Synonyms for restraint

Noun

With artists from across disciplines bringing traditional forms into dialogue with new media, the selection showcases a new wave of cross-disciplinary experimentation.

— Leo Barraclough, Variety, 13 Oct. 2026
Open Air connects fragrance with disciplines ranging from food, music, fashion, design and nightlife to spirituality and social service.

— Kathryn Hopkins, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of discipline

Noun

Any eligibility restriction might seem unfair when applied to individual athletes.

— Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 13 Oct. 2026
At least half the original candidates in Alaska’s crowded governor’s race took positions critical of trawling or bycatch as contenders across the political spectrum called for tighter restrictions.

— Annika Hammerschlag, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of restriction

Noun

As the temperance movement grew, the Besley Brewery attempted to change with the times, but was later sold around 1912.

— Joseph States, Chicago Tribune, 8 Oct. 2026
Founded in 1961 by a puppeteer who acquired a former Victorian temperance hall damaged during the Blitz of World War II, the theater holds one of the world’s last remaining double marionette bridges, suitable for long-string puppets.

— Kelly Kasulis Cho, Christian Science Monitor, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of temperance

Noun

The future of Indian democracy hinges on whether this contest opens up more democratic space or leads to greater repression.

— Pratap Bhanu Mehta, Foreign Affairs, 15 Oct. 2026
To play Sebastian, Guitarrica had to immerse himself in the character’s emotional repression, from which music is his only escape.

— Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of repression

Noun

But finding one’s nerve means fighting the everyday vagaries of low self-esteem, depression, self-deception, insecurity, loss, never-ending grief, and narcissists.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 13 Oct. 2026
Because of the way the substance interacts with the body’s nerves, Schwarz said those who chronically use it face nerve injury and numbness.

— Melissa Gomez, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of nerve

Noun

In my experience, the involvement of ketamine or other drugs invariably makes a bad situation worse – complicating consent, impairing judgment and reducing inhibitions.

— Christopher P. Holstege, The Conversation, 15 Oct. 2026
Many visual motifs emerge, most notably the men in the crowd who shed any inhibitions to cry, dance, and belt the songs at the top of their lungs.

— Marshall Shaffer, IndieWire, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of inhibition

Noun

Joshi and other doctors are calling for additional training to help surgeons understand how AI alters facial images, its anatomical limitations and its potential psychological effects on patients.

— Amy O’Brien, Vogue, 13 Oct. 2026
The new definition, developed by an international panel of medical experts convened by the medical journal The Lancet, requires evidence of both excess body fat and related health problems or limitations in daily activities.

— Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of limitation

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restrains

restraint

restraints

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“Restraint.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/restraint. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of restraint

noun

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