as in regulates
to keep from exceeding a desirable degree or level (as of expression)
try to tame your language when you're in front of the kids
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Recent Examples of tames
The addition of a deeply hued wine reduction, like balsamic vinegar from another world, tames what could have been a dish that ate too sweet.
—
Timothy Depeugh, Charlotte Observer, 24 Apr. 2026
Straight out of the box, this extra-toasty cereal seems too sweet, but a splash of milk tames the sugar, and the squares don’t dissolve into mush in a bowl with milk.
—Jolene Thym, Mercury News, 8 Apr. 2026
The silk texture tames any flyaways without weighing the hair down.
—Annie Blay-Tettey, Allure, 16 Mar. 2026
The star ingredient, agave extract, locks in moisture and tames frizz, while wheat protein and sweet almond oil help soften your strands.
—Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 10 Mar. 2026
The conditioner’s nourishing formula also tames frizz, boosts moisture, and enhances shine.
—Alyssa Morin, InStyle, 9 Feb. 2026
Leadfooted drivers in Arizona whose licenses are in jeopardy of being revoked or suspended could someday opt for new technology that tames their speeding habits.
—Ray Stern, AZCentral.com, 28 Oct. 2025
The key is to blanch the slices in the pasta water first, which tames their bitterness, then to give them a quick sear in olive oil, which caramelizes their edges.
—The New York Times News Service Syndicate, Denver Post, 21 Oct. 2025
The fresh piney fragrance of rosemary not only jazzes up boring chicken and tames gamey lamb but also snaps memory back into shape.
—Catharine Kaufman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Aug. 2025
Timothy Depeugh, Charlotte Observer, 24 Apr. 2026
Straight out of the box, this extra-toasty cereal seems too sweet, but a splash of milk tames the sugar, and the squares don’t dissolve into mush in a bowl with milk.
—Jolene Thym, Mercury News, 8 Apr. 2026
The silk texture tames any flyaways without weighing the hair down.
—Annie Blay-Tettey, Allure, 16 Mar. 2026
The star ingredient, agave extract, locks in moisture and tames frizz, while wheat protein and sweet almond oil help soften your strands.
—Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 10 Mar. 2026
The conditioner’s nourishing formula also tames frizz, boosts moisture, and enhances shine.
—Alyssa Morin, InStyle, 9 Feb. 2026
Leadfooted drivers in Arizona whose licenses are in jeopardy of being revoked or suspended could someday opt for new technology that tames their speeding habits.
—Ray Stern, AZCentral.com, 28 Oct. 2025
The key is to blanch the slices in the pasta water first, which tames their bitterness, then to give them a quick sear in olive oil, which caramelizes their edges.
—The New York Times News Service Syndicate, Denver Post, 21 Oct. 2025
The fresh piney fragrance of rosemary not only jazzes up boring chicken and tames gamey lamb but also snaps memory back into shape.
—Catharine Kaufman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tames
Verb
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Cortisol, the hormone that regulates alertness, blood pressure and blood sugar, peaks naturally in the early morning.—
Allison Palmer
June 1,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
1 June 2026
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The new drug targets mutations in the RAS gene family that normally regulates cell growth.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
31 May 2026
Verb
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The neighborhood/area West Bay is a cluster of towering skyscrapers that contains residences, shopping malls, office buildings, hotels, and restaurants.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
1 June 2026
-
Mathieu Lewis-Rolland / Getty Images The tank was designed to hold 900,000 gallons of a hazardous chemical known as white liquor, a chemical brew that contains sodium hydroxide, sodium sulfide and disodium carbonate and is used in the paper-pulping process, officials have said.—
Marlene Lenthang,
NBC news,
31 May 2026
Verb
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Today, with an easy island glamour done in white columns and blue arches, the hotel itself retains its air of romance, and its location on a private beach keeps celebrities cycling through.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
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Krylon suggests painting your porch decor with this shade, giving your home's entryway a timeless look—indoors, Ink Blue furniture keeps your space grounded and stylish.—
Sophia Beams,
Better Homes & Gardens,
1 June 2026
Verb
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At certain points in the novel, that distance calcifies and restrains his writing.—
Taran Dugal,
New Yorker,
4 Mar. 2026
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And most of the officials agreed that the Fed’s key rate is close to a level that neither stimulates nor restrains the economy.—
Christopher Rugaber,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The price controls on credit cards and pharmaceuticals.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
31 May 2026
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Michigan is also home to competitive House races that could determine which party controls the lower chamber.—
Naomi Lim,
The Washington Examiner,
31 May 2026
Verb
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The answer is that dim residential lighting, at intensities typical of a porch light, suppresses mosquito dormancy more powerfully than even urban warming does.—
John Drake,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
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Pregnancy suppresses the immune system, and dozens of pregnant women or women who had recently given birth died from COVID in California.—
Ariane Lange,
Sacbee.com,
23 May 2026
Verb
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That stifles competition at home and, with China’s dependence on global consumption, raises concerns about dumping and deflation abroad.—
Diane Brady,
Fortune,
14 May 2026
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Balance the state budget and tackle affordability while working with cities to promote small businesses to hire more by creating a business friendly environment such as cutting taxes and cutting red tape that stifles growth.—
Kaitlyn Schallhorn,
Oc Register,
4 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tames.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tames. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.
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