RESTRAINS Synonyms: 98 Similar and Opposite Words

restrains

verb

present tense third-person singular of restrain

as in regulates

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

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as in seizes

to take or keep under one's control by authority of law the suspect was restrained and taken to an undisclosed location

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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 restrains On that same front, Hoffman’s order restrains the NCAA from enforcing the rule of restitution. — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 29 Aug. 2026 Elsewhere on the canvas, Cassatt restrains herself to match Katherine’s discipline. — Carmen Rosenberg-Miller, Artforum, 6 Aug. 2026 Remarkably, state law also severely restrains cities and counties from setting their own regulations, giving local leaders little sway over local gun policies. — Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 17 June 2026 The result is an economic model that favors producers, restrains consumers, and floods international markets with supercheap exports, including steel, solar panels, and electric vehicles. — Michael Schuman, The Atlantic, 3 June 2026 At certain points in the novel, that distance calcifies and restrains his writing. — Taran Dugal, New Yorker, 4 Mar. 2026 And most of the officials agreed that the Fed’s key rate is close to a level that neither stimulates nor restrains the economy. — Christopher Rugaber, Los Angeles Times, 19 Feb. 2026 China’s factory deflation eased more than expected in January thanks mostly to a global metals rally, even as weak demand at home restrains a more sustainable turnaround in prices. — Bloomberg, 11 Feb. 2026 According to projections made at the December meeting, that’s only about half a percentage point from the committee consensus on the neutral rate, or one that neither supports nor restrains growth. — Jeff Cox, CNBC, 5 Jan. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for restrains

Verb

Niacinamide — a multi-functional ingredient that strengthens the skin barrier, regulates oil production, and calms and fades discoloration — is also in the mix.

— Claudia Fisher, PEOPLE, 29 Aug. 2026
There’s also research that indicates microplastics cause disruptions to our endocrine system, which regulates our hormones.

— Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of regulates

Verb

Although the book contains a disclaimer saying some facts were changed, Palal argued that names, hotels and other details changed while the central account did not.

— Jonathan Landrum Jr, Chicago Tribune, 1 Sep. 2026
Seed butter contains nutrients naturally found in the whole seed, including protein, fiber, magnesium and other vitamins and minerals.

— Jo Ann Liguori, Flow Space, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of contains

Verb

Keith arrests our thinking, and cons us into suppressing our critical faculties with the same kind of internalized surveillance that philosopher Michel Foucault broke down to describe a prison’s use of the panopticon in Discipline and Punish.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 19 May 2026
Devlin throws a punch at Stone when the chief arrests him for drunken driving.

— Sandra Dallas, Denver Post, 19 Apr. 2026

Definition of arrests

Verb

Developed by researchers at the University of Queensland and the University of New South Wales (UNSW), the technology keeps critical medical decisions under human control while the cockroaches navigate difficult environments.

— Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 27 Aug. 2026
Drapery panels in Jim Thompson’s Choisya, trimmed in Samuel & Sons, frame the couple’s vintage breakfront, which keeps Khouri’s Royal Crown Derby china within reach.

— Caroline Randall Williams, Architectural Digest, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of keeps

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restraining

restrains

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“Restrains.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/restrains. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of restrains

verb

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