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Glite Dictionary
✋ To hold back 😠 To control emotions
to restrain

to restrain

72 4.6
Keep strong feelings under control so you do not act on them
  • verb
  • /rɪˈstreɪn/
translation icon : contener
  • The father watched the child, barely restraining himself from intervening, but did not say a word.
  • try to restrain
  • efforts to restrain
  • restrain someone from acting

He's not punishing, he's not restraining the evil doers right away.

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Examples

  • But while he lived, Pericles had the wisdom and the political strength to restrain and control them.

  • Gentlemen, will you restrain yourselves from this bickering?

    The Seven Minutes (1971)

  • I was trying to find my gun and they had to, you know, restrain me and like, calm me down.

  • Arthur, we need to restrain him.

    Zack Snyder's Justice League (2021)

  • You can restrain yourself if you're in a situation that calls for it.

  • The man in the turtle T-shirt begins to shout, although he's clearly trying to restrain himself.

    Academic text (2012)

  • She had to restrain her anger during the meeting to maintain professionalism.

  • He struggled to restrain himself from eating the delicious cake in front of him.

  • In stressful situations, it is important to restrain your emotions and think clearly.

Synonyms

to keep
vsto restrain
∞ 1.0

To protect someone or something from harm

is more active, focusing on stopping behaviour or impulses rather than maintaining state
to control
vsto restrain
∞ 2.4

To have power over people, things, or situations

is narrower, emphasising stopping actions or emotions rather than overall power
to prevent
vsto restrain
∞ 2.3

Stop something from happening or someone from doing it

is narrower, focusing on preventing actions or impulses rather than general stoppage
to hold
vsto restrain
∞ 1.9

To stop yourself from showing a feeling or reaction

is specifically about stopping behaviour or impulses rather than physical confinement
to contain
vsto restrain
388 3.5

To keep something dangerous from spreading or getting worse

is more about preventing someone from doing something, not only limiting spread
to hold back
vsto restrain
108 4.2

Keep yourself from showing feelings or telling others

focuses on keeping actions or emotions under control rather than hiding them
to deter
vsto restrain
94 5.6

Make someone less likely to do something by making them fear bad results

is direct control of behaviour or emotions rather than using fear to stop them
to suppress
vsto restrain
88 5.8

To hold back feelings or reactions

is similar but emphasises stopping actions as well as emotions
to curb
vsto restrain
73 3.5

To limit or control something to stop it getting worse

tends to apply to direct control of actions or feelings rather than general reduction
to hold in
vsto restrain
65 4.5

To stop yourself from showing strong feelings

is broader, applying to actions and emotions rather than only inner urges
to constrain
vsto restrain
64 5.6

To limit what someone can do or how they can act

is more about direct self-restraint of actions and emotions rather than imposed limits
to rein in
vsto restrain
53 4.6

To keep someone or something under control, for example by limiting spending

is similar but focuses more on stopping actions than limiting excess
to stifle
vsto restrain
49 5.3

To hold back a feeling or reaction so it does not show

focuses more on deliberate prevention of actions as well as feelings
to subdue
vsto restrain
37 5.5

To bring a person or thing under control, often by force

can be gentler, focusing on self-control rather than external force
to strangle
vsto restrain
33 6.7

To limit growth or activity so it cannot continue

is about measured prevention or control rather than extreme suppression
to hold down
vsto restrain
22 3.2

To keep something low and stop it from getting bigger

is about stopping people or actions rather than limiting size or growth
to repress
vsto restrain
12 6.1

Stop a process or action from happening

is more about active control of behaviour and feelings rather than processes
to inhibit
vsto restrain
11 6.3

Make someone unable to act naturally or show feelings

is broader, also covering deliberate stopping of actions not just awkwardness
to choke back
vsto restrain
4 7.0

Stop yourself from showing a feeling when you want to cry

describes control without stressing the strong personal difficulty involved
to keep back
vsto restrain
4 5.1

Stop yourself from showing an emotion like tears or laughter

is broader, covering prevention of actions as well as holding back feelings
to choke down
vsto restrain
2 7.7

To stop yourself from showing strong feelings like sadness or anger

is about general control without focusing on physical struggle
to tie someone's hands
vsto restrain
1 4.8

Stop someone from acting or making decisions

is about self or other control of actions and feelings rather than only limiting choices
to tramell
vsto restrain
  • UK
9.9

To hold back or make it hard for someone to act freely

focuses on active stopping or emotional control rather than physical entanglement

Antonyms

to allow
∞ 1.0

To let something happen or let someone do something

to release
∞ 1.8

To let someone or something go free from being held

How Restrained

to stifle
49 5.3
to suppress
88 5.8
to restrain
72 4.6
control
∞ 2.8
to hold back
108 4.2

Surface Forms

restrain infinitive
restrained past
restrained past participle
restraining present participle
restrains third person singular

Etymology

Restrain comes from parts that mean 'back' (re-) and 'to tighten' (like string, which ties things). So, to restrain your anger is to 'hold it back' or control it.