1
as in to regulate
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 to arrest
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
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Recent Examples of restrain
The pair were also convicted of confining, restraining and debarking dogs, WBNS-TV reports.
—
Nicole Acosta, People.com, 18 Feb. 2025
Recent decades have seen presidents from both parties erode laws and norms meant to restrain their power, increasingly without the sort of pushback from members of their own party that restrained their predecessors (including FDR).
—Lawrence Norden, TIME, 12 Feb. 2025
Moments later, another body camera captures the inmate restrained in handcuffs being carried face down by three officers — two at his arms, another at his legs — through the entryway.
—Thomas C. Zambito, USA TODAY, 17 Feb. 2025
Mary got another domestic violence restraining order on Dec. 30, an order the court extended on Jan. 22.
—David J. Neal and, Miami Herald, 17 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for restrain
Nicole Acosta, People.com, 18 Feb. 2025
Recent decades have seen presidents from both parties erode laws and norms meant to restrain their power, increasingly without the sort of pushback from members of their own party that restrained their predecessors (including FDR).
—Lawrence Norden, TIME, 12 Feb. 2025
Moments later, another body camera captures the inmate restrained in handcuffs being carried face down by three officers — two at his arms, another at his legs — through the entryway.
—Thomas C. Zambito, USA TODAY, 17 Feb. 2025
Mary got another domestic violence restraining order on Dec. 30, an order the court extended on Jan. 22.
—David J. Neal and, Miami Herald, 17 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for restrain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for restrain
Verb
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Many probiotics are sold as supplements, which are minimally regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).—
Lindsey DeSoto,
Health,
10 Mar. 2025
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The red states allege that the claims pending in state court seek to regulate activity outside of the blue states' borders and involve an area governed by federal law.—
Melissa Quinn,
CBS News,
10 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The sheriff said his priority would be working with ICE to arrest members of gangs, such as Tren de Aragua, or TDA, which is based in Venezuela and Bradshaw said has a presence in Miami.—
Anthony Man,
Sun Sentinel,
2 Mar. 2025
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In return for the temporary dismissal of his indictment for bribery and fraud, Adams’ promised to assist the Trump administration in arresting migrants in New York City.—
Nick Akerman,
New York Daily News,
2 Mar. 2025
Verb
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From the outset, the premise of Monstress and its tale is a dire one: imagine a 1900s alternative universe controlled by a cruel matriarchal society in Asia.—
Tiffany Leigh,
Forbes,
13 Mar. 2025
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But the law would still apply to any association in a building controlled by a hotel that hasn’t contested that arrangement.—
Alexandra Glorioso,
Miami Herald,
12 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The area around the strait in the past has seen Iran seize commercial ships and purportedly launch attacks since President Donald Trump first unilaterally withdrew America from Tehran's nuclear deal with world powers.—
Graham Underwood,
arkansasonline.com,
12 Mar. 2025
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Both deals were first violated in 2014 when Putin seized Crimea and backed Russian separatist forces in the Donbas region.—
Caitlin McFall,
Fox News,
12 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Most drugstore shampoos contain harsh ingredients that dry out the scalp.—
Gordon G. Chang,
Newsweek,
4 Mar. 2025
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The formula also contains polyhydroxy acid, a cousin to AHAs that offer light exfoliating perks.—
Angela Trakoshis,
Allure,
3 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Lozano exited the match in the 28th minute after appearing to grab his left hamstring.—
Ryan Finley,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
2 Mar. 2025
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Tari Eason scored 14 points and Dillon Brooks added 12. Sabonis’ injury Sabonis grabbed his left hamstring while running the floor just over a minute into the game.—
Jason Anderson,
Sacramento Bee,
2 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Trump said all three countries needed to do more to curb the amount of fentanyl coming over the border.—
Filip Timotija,
The Hill,
7 Mar. 2025
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President Donald Trump's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has shut down 146,000 government credit cards in just two weeks in an effort to curb waste and fraud within the federal government.—
Russel Honoré,
Newsweek,
6 Mar. 2025
Verb
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But the path toward apprehending the culprit runs not through a procedural hunt but via an unlikely act of literary criticism.—
Katie Kitamura,
New York Times,
25 Feb. 2025
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The rapper, who was in town to host and perform at a party at Friends Sports Bar & Kitchen, was apprehended by local law enforcement and subsequently detained.—
Preezy Brown,
VIBE.com,
25 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Restrain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/restrain. Accessed 15 Mar. 2025.
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