restraining

verb

present participle of restrain
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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of restraining In fact, Tiffany’s record shows little concern for protecting natural resources and local control, or for restraining corporate power. — Dan Kaufman, New Yorker, 28 Aug. 2026 But Gorsuch also wrote that an individual conference, through its members’ voting, can adopt various rules restraining athletes’ potential compensation as conference members see fit. — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 25 Aug. 2026 The main thing stock folks are worried about – the voracious consumption and headlong deployment of capital for AI – is now the thing lifting rates and potentially restraining growth elsewhere. — Michael Santoli, CNBC, 24 Aug. 2026 But the legislation contains no provision restraining increases in state and institutional funding for athletics, said Amy Privette Perko, CEO of the Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics. — David A. Lieb, Fortune, 20 Aug. 2026 Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and even Singapore have rallied behind Ukraine, seeing a Russian defeat as essential for restraining Chinese ambition. — Kurt M. Campbell, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2026 Current state policy makes clear that schools should only consider physically restraining a student or confining them to a room away from others in emergency situations where a student is at risk of harming themselves or others. — CBS News, 17 Aug. 2026 One of the topics raised by Cullen is that Championship clubs need to find ways to boost income alongside restraining costs. — Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026 According to a recall notice posted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, an issue in the second row could prevent occupants from adequately restraining themselves inside the vehicle, raising the risk of injury during a collision. — Taylor Ardrey, USA Today, 4 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for restraining
  1. controlling
  2. arresting
  3. regulating
  4. seizing
  5. curbing
  6. grabbing
  7. containing
  8. apprehending
Verb
  • The company has also said that controlling the chip, domain controller and underlying software stack could help reduce component costs as production volumes increase.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Japanese doctors have advised patients reporting rashes or difficulty controlling bowels after frequent use to stop until symptoms clear, per the AP.
    — Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of controlling
Verb
  • Since his administration launched its mass deportation campaign and reversed limits on ICE arresting military spouses and parents, such arrests have become more common.
    — Camilo Montoya-Galvez, CBS News, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Law enforcement arrived within two minutes, officials said, before engaging the two shooters and arresting them.
    — Cindy Von Quednow, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of arresting
Verb
  • The sweet summer fruit is made of 92 percent water, an essential nutrient for regulating body temperature and supporting key processes in the body, notes Elick.
    — Kirsten Nunez, Martha Stewart, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Comporta and Melides have their beach clubs and their destination dining, but strict laws regulating construction have for now prevented the kind of overdevelopment that can disrupt such an unspoiled place.
    — Mattie Kahn, Vogue, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of regulating
Verb
  • At the same time, seizing damaged assets could bring another financial burden.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Hull were, unsurprisingly, the opposite, playing with urgency on the ball and seizing the opportunity to hurt United at set pieces.
    — Laurie Whitwell, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of seizing
Verb
  • Still, the pushback led Langley to announce a slew of measures aimed at curbing police misuse.
    — Christopher Cann, USA Today, 30 Aug. 2026
  • What the settlement actually changes The design changes, such as curbing infinite scroll and autoplay, are the substantive core of the agreement.
    — Carolina Rossini, The Conversation, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of curbing
Verb
  • Two men bought tickets to enter Vienna's Museum of Applied Arts (MAK) before smashing a display case, grabbing a 200-carat platinum and diamond necklace and walking away, police said Friday.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 28 Aug. 2026
  • In the commercial, Good Good co-founder Garrett Clark rushes over to his golf bag and pushes over golfer Alexis Miestowski to keep her from grabbing the Quantum Driver.
    — Andrew Greif, NBC news, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of grabbing
Verb
  • Pricing Happy Head’s topical solution is billed on a monthly basis, with a single bottle containing two ounces of treatment solution.
    — BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Mass spectrometry revealed that the broken containers had once held something containing the chemical compounds theobromine, theophylline, caffeine, and paraxanthine.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of containing
Verb
  • The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation initially contacted Roswell police and asked for assistance locating and apprehending Spruill.
    — Zachary Bynum, CBS News, 18 Aug. 2026
  • She’s tasked with apprehending The Puppet Master (Iemasa Kayumi), a hacker who appears to be tapping directly into these networked minds and altering memories.
    — David Faris, TheWeek, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of apprehending

Browse Nearby Words

restrainedly
restraining
restrains
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Cite this Entry

“Restraining.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/restraining. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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