1
as in controlling
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 arresting
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 restraining
No other employees involved in the altercation were fired, including the worker seen restraining the woman on the ground.
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Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 9 Jan. 2026
Arab governments eager to turn the page on years of upheaval see Washington as the only power capable—if rarely willing—of restraining a bellicose Israel.
—Comfort Ero, Time, 9 Jan. 2026
Around that time, Howe was the focus of a KCRG-TV report that included body-camera footage of him physically restraining Wolf, who was suspected of driving while barred.
—Clark Kauffman, Des Moines Register, 8 Jan. 2026
Refocus the Future of Health Care Commission on improving quality and controlling Medicaid costs by restraining exceptionally high spending on long-term and home care.
—Andrew Rein, New York Daily News, 6 Jan. 2026
The case opens another front in clashes relating to the legality of bundling and could present a threat to programmers whose business models are dependent on restraining distributors’ ability to package channels and subscription periods.
—Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 5 Jan. 2026
By placing the Civil Administration under political control rather than independent military command, the government has weakened one of the few mechanisms capable of restraining settler expansion.
—Arie Perliger, The Conversation, 12 Dec. 2025
Video shows one agent restraining the man, then dragging him around as another agent helps pin him to the ground.
—Zoe Sottile, CNN Money, 3 Nov. 2025
Taiwan, too, should keep enhancing its civil and military defenses while restraining its assertions of sovereignty in cross-strait affairs.
—Stephen Wertheim, Foreign Affairs, 28 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for restraining
Verb
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The farmers also pitched in with efforts of their own, including adjusting fertilizer methods, controlling soil erosion and increasing on-site water retention.—
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Other concerning behaviors may include constant messaging, controlling actions, name-calling, threats, or refusing to respect your boundaries.—
Verb
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The arresting officer’s injuries did not require medical attention, Frasier told the Idaho Statesman by email.—
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The government is also still cracking down on dissent, arresting people for celebrating Maduro’s capture.—
Verb
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Silk is known to have great temperature-regulating qualities, so these will lock in the heat during the winter and keep you cool in the summer.—
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That’s because our oceans play a key role in regulating the impact of global carbon emissions in our atmosphere—absorbing about 90% of the excess heat from planetary warming trapped by greenhouse gases over the past century.—
Verb
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But seizing current oil production is one thing; overhauling Venezuela's entire oil industry would be another.—
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Trump has occasionally discussed seizing Greenland since his first term but few initially took his threats seriously.—
Verb
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The idea of curbing Wall Street’s role in housing isn’t new.—
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Vaccinating children also helped protect pregnant women by curbing the spread of infection.—
Verb
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Take after the actress by grabbing them in black, or choose from six additional colors, including burgundy and deep brown.—
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Healthy cooking often boils down to accessibility and convenience; busy lives can leave people grabbing less nutritious alternatives.—
Verb
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This changed with the draining and containing of the Everglades and explosive growth and development that followed.—
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The changes saw Fielder do a much better job of containing Demirel, allowing the Broncos to fight back and take a 9-8 lead.—
Verb
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Protesters in Minneapolis have since flooded the streets in the thousands, and ICE agents have responded by apprehending some, shoving others to the ground, and spraying chemical irritants in their faces.—
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While our immigration enforcement should be focused on apprehending and prosecuting violent criminals to make our communities safer, these ICE actions are doing the opposite and making our state less safe.—
Cite this Entry
“Restraining.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/restraining. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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