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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 Homes are warmly modern, designed with clean lines, clarity, and restraint. — Gl Homes, Miami Herald, 2 July 2026 Governors in Colorado and New Mexico this week urged restraint, while cities and counties from the Southwest to Oregon and Washington have imposed restrictions of their own. — ABC News, 1 July 2026 The prisoner is placed in restraints and led back down the wing before being transported to Florida State Prison and placed on death watch. — Pamela Colloff, ProPublica, 30 June 2026 Postwar American prosperity, with its ideology of more, seemed stacked against the restraint required of Zen Buddhist practice. — Literary Hub, 29 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for restraint

Recent Examples of Synonyms for restraint

Noun

Last fall, Johnson & Wales University in Rhode Island became the first in the country to launch an in person, three-year bachelor’s degree in specific disciplines.

— Editorial, Boston Herald, 6 July 2026
In Aries, the taskmaster planet brings maturity and discipline to a Fire sign associated with independence, impulse and passion.

— Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 6 July 2026

Definition of discipline

Noun

Leading the list is the United States’ third-country refugee agreements and the Citizenship by Investment program, which both Washington and the European Union have now linked to visa restrictions.

— Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 9 July 2026
After a one-year break due to war travel restrictions, the Americans trounced the Nationals 12-0 at Fenway Park, the most one-sided of the All-Star games.

— Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026

Definition of restriction

Noun

In the winter of 1920, the United States entered Prohibition in the United States after years of campaigning by temperance groups who believed alcohol sat at the root of many social ills.

— Kate Hardcastle, Forbes.com, 19 June 2026
Another was promoting temperance realizing alcoholism could destroy families.

— Myrna Petlicki, Chicago Tribune, 9 June 2026

Definition of temperance

Noun

His approach has drawn criticism from some Sikh groups, who accuse Ottawa of failing to hold India accountable or safeguard Sikh Canadians from foreign interference and transnational repression.

— CNN Money, CNN Money, 8 July 2026
Government repression increasingly targeted Catholic clergy in communities in Quiché, and Gerardi began to openly protest the violent acts.

— Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 July 2026

Definition of repression

Noun

The pair had been in talks with traditional studios about a few of their ideas, but timeline constraints and the potential loss of creative control steered them away.

— Cerys Davies, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026
Bieber’s inclusion in the FIFA Halftime Show – the first in the World Cup tournament’s nearly 100-year history – adds to an overwhelmingly starry lineup given the time constraints.

— Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 8 July 2026

Definition of constraint

Noun

Jason’s nerves over going back to school (to be a social worker) in his 40s is played more for laughs and camaraderie than embarrassment or temptation.

— Ben Travers, IndieWire, 8 July 2026
This may increase blood flow to the brain and nerve activity, thereby improving cognition.

— Sarah Bence, Verywell Health, 7 July 2026

Definition of nerve

Noun

Put inhibitions aside to experience the latest episode of Doc Talk, hosted by John Ridley (12 Years a Slave, Shirley), and Matt Carey, Deadline’s senior documentary editor.

— Matthew Carey, Deadline, 30 June 2026
Darkness removes that inhibition and allows the pineal gland to release melatonin.

— Sally Ibrahim, The Conversation, 23 June 2026

Definition of inhibition

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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 12 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of restraint

noun

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