1
as in restraint
the power to control one's actions, impulses, or emotions
she demonstrated an almost unnatural self-restraint during the fight
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in discipline
the checking of one's true feelings and impulses when dealing with others
we must practice self-restraint even with people who are deliberately rude
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Recent Examples of self-restraint
Voters can, however, favor those who pursue self-restraint.
—
John Nemec, The Conversation, 7 Apr. 2025
Without meaningful regulation or self-restraint by AI firms, the arms race between data-hungry bots and those attempting to defend open source infrastructure seems likely to escalate further, potentially deepening the crisis for the digital ecosystem that underpins the modern Internet.
—Ars Technica, 25 Mar. 2025
The sun’s alignment with Saturn encourages self-restraint, not self-deprivation.
—USA TODAY, 12 Mar. 2025
It is considered a period of introspection, communal prayer and a time to practice self-restraint, as explained by Britannica.
—Tommy Tuberville, Newsweek, 6 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for self-restraint
John Nemec, The Conversation, 7 Apr. 2025
Without meaningful regulation or self-restraint by AI firms, the arms race between data-hungry bots and those attempting to defend open source infrastructure seems likely to escalate further, potentially deepening the crisis for the digital ecosystem that underpins the modern Internet.
—Ars Technica, 25 Mar. 2025
The sun’s alignment with Saturn encourages self-restraint, not self-deprivation.
—USA TODAY, 12 Mar. 2025
It is considered a period of introspection, communal prayer and a time to practice self-restraint, as explained by Britannica.
—Tommy Tuberville, Newsweek, 6 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for self-restraint
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-restraint
Noun
-
Shams Charania’s debut as part of ESPN’s NBA Draft coverage last week doubled as a herculean exercise in restraint.—
Peter A. Berry,
Rolling Stone,
29 June 2025
-
Most were secular, or observed religion privately and with restraint.—
Kian Tajbakhsh,
The Atlantic,
27 June 2025
Noun
-
But the promise of fiscal discipline has become a straightjacket.—
Oliver Eagleton,
Time,
5 July 2025
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Prior to Vida, the Fort Wayne native studied culinary disciplines including butchery at Ivy Tech's Fort Wayne and Indianapolis campuses.—
Bradley Hohulin,
IndyStar,
4 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Self-restraint.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-restraint. Accessed 9 Jul. 2025.
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