SYNONYMS AND RELATED EXPRESSIONS
restrain
verb
To hold back, limit, or control an action, impulse, or movement.
Local English device voice, when available. This is not a recorded dictionary pronunciation.
Hold back or limit
Closest synonyms
Related words and expressions
These extend or explain the idea and may require a different sentence structure.
Usage distinction
Return to topRestrain can limit movement, conduct, or impulses. Confine stresses boundaries; suppress can imply preventing expression more completely.
CHECK THE MEANING IN CONTEXT
See restrain in use
She tried to restrain her impatience while the new member explained his concern.
A guide cord helped restrain the movement of a hanging stage lantern so it would not swing beyond the marked area during rehearsal.
Compare an alternative with the original word in each passage. Shared meanings do not make every pair interchangeable.
Synonym reference scope and sources
The groups distinguish the senses selected for this study entry. Closest synonyms and broader related expressions have separate labels. The listed sources support lexical selection; not every phrase is a direct quotation from a source.
How the synonym reference was prepared / WordNet 3.0 license