Synonyms for restrain
rɪˈstreɪnre·strain

English Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. restrain

   To restrain is to hold back from acting, proceeding, or advancing, either by physical or moral force. Constrain is positive; restrain is negative; one is constrained to an action; he is restrained from an action. Constrain refers almost exclusively to moral force, restrain frequently to physical force, as when we speak of putting one under restraint. To restrain an action is to hold it partially or wholly in check, so that it is under pressure even while it acts; to restrict an action is to fix a limit or boundary which it may not pass, but within which it is free. To repress, literally to press back, is to hold in check, and perhaps only temporarily, that which is still very active; it is a feebler word than restrain; to suppress is finally and effectually to put down; suppress is a much stronger word than restrain; as, to suppress a rebellion. Compare ARREST; BIND; KEEP.

   Synonyms:
   abridge, bridle, check, circumscribe, confine, constrain, curb, hinder, hold, hold back, hold in, keep, keep back, keep down, keep in, keep under, repress, restrict, suppress, withhold

   Antonyms:
   aid, animate, arouse, emancipate, encourage, excite, free, impel, incite, let loose, release, set free

Complete Dictionary of Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. restrain

   Synonyms:
   check, repress, hinder, limit, confine, restrict, withhold, curb, coerce, prohibit, narrow, circumscribe, reduce

   Antonyms:
   promote, advance, urge, incite, aid, liberate, indulge, loose, vent, amplify, enlarge, expand, extend

Princeton's WordNetRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. restrain, keep, keep back, hold backverb

   keep under control; keep in check

   "suppress a smile"; "Keep your temper"; "keep your cool"

   Synonyms:
   intimidate, retain, hold off, throttle, hold back, restrict, hold on, continue, withhold, save, stay fresh, trammel, go along, wait, hold in, stop, encumber, turn back, celebrate, hold open, keep, proceed, cumber, observe, forbear, go on, constrain, hold, conceal, confine, preserve, prevent, arrest, bound, keep open, keep on, maintain, limit, contain, keep back, sustain, check

2. restrict, restrain, trammel, limit, bound, confine, throttleverb

   place limits on (extent or access)

   "restrict the use of this parking lot"; "limit the time you can spend with your friends"

   Synonyms:
   spring, strangle, snare, intimidate, rebound, qualify, ricochet, choke, throttle, circumscribe, hold back, fix, trammel, entrap, take a hop, hold in, determine, encumber, define, specify, border, strangulate, keep, reverberate, recoil, cumber, curb, constrain, hold, ensnare, confine, bounce, leap, restrict, jump, bound, curtail, detain, trap, resile, limit, keep back, cut back, set, enclose

3. restrain, confine, holdverb

   to close within bounds, limit or hold back from movement

   "This holds the local until the express passengers change trains"; "About a dozen animals were held inside the stockade"; "The illegal immigrants were held at a detention center"; "The terrorists held the journalists for ransom"

   Synonyms:
   accommodate, book, support, intimidate, retain, hold in, throttle, circumscribe, apply, hold back, harbour, defend, take hold, restrict, deem, hold up, arrest, guard, take, have, concord, trammel, check, make, take for, go for, encumber, throw, defy, control, harbor, halt, keep, obligate, cumber, carry, give, adjudge, entertain, nurse, oblige, constrain, curb, hold, moderate, bind, confine, have got, declare, withstand, view as, bound, detain, contain, concur, maintain, limit, keep back, sustain, prevail, reserve, admit, obtain, enclose, agree, bear

4. restrain, encumber, cumber, constrainverb

   hold back

   Synonyms:
   stiffen, restrict, trammel, constrain, keep, hold back, confine, bound, cumber, hold, tighten, encumber, tighten up, keep back, intimidate, limit, throttle

5. intimidate, restrainverb

   to compel or deter by or as if by threats

   Synonyms:
   restrict, bound, throttle, keep back, limit, constrain, trammel, hold back, confine, keep, encumber, hold, intimidate, cumber

Editors ContributionRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. choke back (verb)

   fail to control one’s emotions

   they choked back tears (feelings; anger; disappointment, etc.)

   Submitted by erhnice on July 28, 2019  

Dictionary of English SynonymesRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. restrainverb

   Synonyms:
   check, curb, bridle, repress, suppress, withhold, constrain, cramp, interdict, keep, contain, hold back, hold in, keep under

2. restrainverb

   Synonyms:
   hinder, prevent, debar, bar, stop, prohibit

3. restrainverb

   Synonyms:
   limit, confine, restrict, circumscribe

Synonyms, Antonyms & Associated WordsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. restrainverb

   Synonyms:
   repress, suppress, check, bridle, curb, constrain, abridge, circumscribe, limit, restrict, narrow, withhold, forbear, debar, prevent, interdict, prohibit

PPDB, the paraphrase databaseRate these paraphrases:0.0 / 0 votes

1. List of paraphrases for "restrain":

   restrict, limit, curb, contain

How to pronounce restrain?

How to say restrain in sign language?

Usage in printed sourcesFrom: 

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Words popularity by usage frequency

How to use restrain in a sentence?

1. RAS CARDO REGGAE:

   Most men act real stupid trying to restrain the emotions of an emotionally strong and tenacious woman. They often find themselves in an -emotional quick sand- the more they wiggle, the deeper they sink-after someone dies of course! what stupidity!

2. United States.Jeff Eller:

   As a licensed child care center, if a child attempts to leave any of our facilities, we can not restrain them, we are not a detention center. We talk to them and try to get them to stay. If they leave the property, we call law enforcement.

3. Darias Jonker:

   There will still be a significant fightback from the Zuma faction which will restrain Ramaphosa.

4. Henri-Frédéric Amiel:

   Tears are the symbol of the inability of the soul to restrain its emotion and retain its self command.

5. Saint Augustine:

   You (God) have not only commanded continence, that is, from what things we are to restrain our love, but also justice, that is, on what we are to bestow our love.