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View synonyms for restrain

restrain

[ ri-streyn ]

verb (used with object)

  1. to hold back from action; keep in check or under control; repress:

    to restrain one's temper.

    Synonyms: constrain, suppress, curb, control, bridle

    Antonyms: unbridle

  2. to deprive of liberty, as by arrest or the like.

    Synonyms: hamper, hinder, circumscribe, restrict, imprison, confine

    Antonyms: release, liberate, free

  3. to limit or hamper the activity, growth, or effect of:

    to restrain trade with Cuba.



restrain

/ rɪˈstreɪn /

verb

  1. to hold (someone) back from some action, esp by force
  2. to deprive (someone) of liberty, as by imprisonment
  3. to limit or restrict


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Derived Forms

  • reˈstrainable, adjective

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Other Words From

  • re·straina·ble adjective
  • re·straina·bili·ty noun
  • re·straining·ly adverb
  • over·re·strain verb (used with object)
  • prere·strain verb (used with object)
  • unre·straina·ble adjective

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Word History and Origins

Origin of restrain1

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English restreynen, from Middle French restreindre, from Latin restringere “to bind back, bind fast”; equivalent to re- + strain 1

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Word History and Origins

Origin of restrain1

C14 restreyne , from Old French restreindre , from Latin rēstringere to draw back tightly, from re- + stringere to draw, bind; see strain 1

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Synonym Study

See check 1.

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Example Sentences

A lawsuit alleges staff members restrained him for nearly two hours, even as he vomited and urinated on himself.

With two officers restraining each of the girl’s hands, video shows, she slides to the street, thrashing and kicking at police as she pleads to see her dad.

Kids who weren’t restrained at all definitely suffered the consequences.

Illinois lawmakers had the support to ban schools from locking students alone in a room or physically restraining them face down.

Each victim may receive multiple services, including legal help with things like restraining orders, emergency hotel night vouchers, counseling sessions and online professional training, officials said.

Three off-duty cops working as security guards apprehended Saylor and proceeded to restrain him in an ultimately fatal fashion.

All said that they only touched the jogger or helped restrain her, while one or more of the others forced themselves on her.

What about allowing a school to manually or "mechanically" restrain students?

The other detectives had to restrain her to keep her from striking him again.

To some observers, this is a classic Red State action to try to restrain the growth of renewable energy.

At sight of this generous enemy, this faithful friend, how could he restrain the grateful impulse to fling himself into his arms!

It may be, of course, that the responsibility was thrown on the lady in order to restrain the hand of the incensed king.

Refraining from vowing to him, man sustains a character no higher than the wicked who restrain prayer before God.

A husband cannot chastise his wife, but he may use force to restrain her from committing a violent criminal wrong.

And, making a desperate effort to restrain his tears, he rushed rather than went out of the room.

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restr.restrained