1
as in to regulate
to keep from exceeding a desirable degree or level (as of expression)
the victim's family members were unable to restrain their emotions upon hearing the verdict
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to arrest
to take or keep under one's control by authority of law
the suspect was restrained and taken to an undisclosed location
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of restrain
The suspect tried to open the aircraft door during the flight and, when restrained by the crew, uttered racial and homophobic slurs against the professionals, the statement said.
—
ABC News,
24 June 2026
Even though children notoriously love to test the limits of parental rules, studies suggest that parents who restrain from distracted driving are more likely to have children who do the same, as are parents who wear bike helmets.
—
David C. Schwebel,
The Conversation,
24 June 2026
Richard drove Kara to his apartment, stopping along the way to restrain her with handcuffs and place a gag in her mouth.
—
Lynsey Eidell,
PEOPLE,
24 June 2026
Al-Shaair learned how to restrain himself in practice.
—
Dan Pompei,
New York Times,
23 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for restrain
ABC News,
24 June 2026
Even though children notoriously love to test the limits of parental rules, studies suggest that parents who restrain from distracted driving are more likely to have children who do the same, as are parents who wear bike helmets.
—
David C. Schwebel,
The Conversation,
24 June 2026
Richard drove Kara to his apartment, stopping along the way to restrain her with handcuffs and place a gag in her mouth.
—
Lynsey Eidell,
PEOPLE,
24 June 2026
Al-Shaair learned how to restrain himself in practice.
—
Dan Pompei,
New York Times,
23 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for restrain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for restrain
Verb
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Progressives cite its emphasis on the dignity of work and workers, and on the need for government to regulate working conditions that threaten this dignity.
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Meanwhile, even some PBM critics question whether states can effectively regulate them.
Verb
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The suspects arrested allegedly planned to target senior government officials with small, armed drones; no devices were launched.
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Police later caught up to Shockley at his father’s home in New Jersey, and he was arrested and convicted of murder.
Verb
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France has largely dominated, controlling 68% of possession and creating a whopping seven shots on goal.
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Doing your nails at home gives you control over how aggressively the nail plate is filed and how gel is removed, which can lower the risk of long-term damage.
Verb
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Hilton, running on a platform of affordability and lowering taxes, has seized on the sentiment, casting health coverage for immigrants without legal status as deeply unfair and a direct threat to the state’s ability to help citizens.
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So far this year, 17 tons of illicit drugs, mostly cocaine, have been seized in the Pacific region – more than three times the total across the whole of last year, according to the Australian Federal Police.
Verb
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Pomegranates also contain vitamin K and folate, which can help support healthy blood clotting and cell growth, respectively.
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The Lineage warehouse, built in 2018, is likely to contain different materials of concern.
Verb
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Video of the incident showed the professor grabbing and twisting the arm of the pro-Palestinian student.
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As police tried to handcuff Sever, the Westmoreland County District Attorney's Office said Sever swung at troopers and forcefully grabbed at a trooper's duty weapon, which was secured in a holster.
Verb
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Learn about new regulations that aim to curb contact with swimmers.
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The Financial Times reported that Google has curbed Meta’s use of its AI models after the Facebook and Instagram parent company wanted to use more computing capacity than Google could provide.
Verb
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Photos from the match showed multiple people being apprehended or escorted away by security during the bizarre stoppage.
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Chavez, 19, ran from the scene, but was later apprehended.
Cite this Entry
“Restrain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/restrain. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.
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