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
Monetary policy alone cannot overcome the uncertainty created by tariffs, the lack of fiscal restraint, companies focused on cutting costs by replacing people with technology, the impact of the shutdown and the fears of consumers about the future.
—
John W. Diamond, The Conversation, 2 Oct. 2025
Johnson’s performance is humble rather than showy, an impressive feat of control and restraint.
—Richard Lawson, Rolling Stone, 1 Oct. 2025
The band’s renaissance man, Teranishi, has a knack for urgent, jagged melodies on lead guitar, but perhaps his greatest gift is restraint.
—Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 30 Sep. 2025
Each piece is designed with a tear-resistant interior, multiple pockets, and a garment restraint panel, which keeps your clothes in place during bumpy travel.
—Destinee Scott, Travel + Leisure, 30 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for restraint
John W. Diamond, The Conversation, 2 Oct. 2025
Johnson’s performance is humble rather than showy, an impressive feat of control and restraint.
—Richard Lawson, Rolling Stone, 1 Oct. 2025
The band’s renaissance man, Teranishi, has a knack for urgent, jagged melodies on lead guitar, but perhaps his greatest gift is restraint.
—Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 30 Sep. 2025
Each piece is designed with a tear-resistant interior, multiple pockets, and a garment restraint panel, which keeps your clothes in place during bumpy travel.
—Destinee Scott, Travel + Leisure, 30 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for restraint
Recent Examples of Synonyms for restraint
Noun
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Milei instead relied on the IMF’s guidance for promoting fiscal discipline.—
Shawn Tully,
Fortune,
8 Oct. 2025
-
Today, the Nobel Prize in Physics remains widely regarded as the most prestigious award in the discipline.—
USA Today,
USA Today,
7 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Project 2025 calls for Title I to be delivered to states as block grants, or chunks of money with few restrictions.—
Megan O’Matz,
ProPublica,
8 Oct. 2025
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Military officials are pushing forward with new restrictions on the Pentagon press corps despite objections from news organizations and watchdog groups.—
Brian Stelter,
CNN Money,
8 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The temperance movement, which aimed to reduce alcohol use, gained steam in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.—
Maggie Menderski,
Louisville Courier Journal,
16 Sep. 2025
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The movie clip reveals how much temperance, humanity, and transcendence Mary Jackson needs to navigate a system that has embedded injustices that few see or understand.—
Mary Crossan,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Klima lived an incredible, principled life, having survived both the Nazi concentration camp at Terezin as a boy, and post-1968 Soviet repression in Czechoslovakia.—
Jonny Diamond,
Literary Hub,
6 Oct. 2025
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Global organization Human Rights Watch accused the festival of diverting attention away from allegations of the government’s severe repression of free speech and criticized comedians for performing on the behest of an oppressive regime.—
Anthony Robledo,
USA Today,
4 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Shaw said better compensation could help reduce turnover further, but districts may struggle to offer raises due to budget constraints.—
Kayla Huynh,
jsonline.com,
6 Oct. 2025
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The struggle of artistic pursuit against personal and political constraints is a subtext embedded throughout An Unfinished Film.—
Yangyang Cheng,
NPR,
4 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The volume and nature of the meows immediately struck a nerve with viewers, who recognized the sound of separation anxiety and loneliness.—
Maria Morava,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Oct. 2025
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This drug blocks those signals, so the nerves have a better chance to regrow.—
Angelica Stabile,
FOXNews.com,
3 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Maintaining the correct proportion of excitation to inhibition is critical for keeping the brain healthy and harmonious.—
Yasemin Saplakoglu,
Quanta Magazine,
29 Sep. 2025
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This also supports the idea that swearing can momentarily activate mental states that reduce inhibition and allow the body and mind to perform at a higher level.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Moulton’s Senate primary rationale, stated or otherwise, rests on the enduring public image of former President Joe Biden, who withdrew from his 2024 reelection bid after a disastrous debate against Trump revealed limitations of being in office at age 82 and beyond.—
David Mark,
The Washington Examiner,
3 Oct. 2025
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There are still limitations, of course.—
Beatrice Nolan,
Fortune,
3 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Restraint.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/restraint. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
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