Being a teacher, you must learn to keep a tight rein on your emotions.
Source: tatoeba (16313)
Rein
/ɹeɪn/
Synonyms for "rein" (139 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (28)
Strong matches (42)
curtailcurtailmentdeceleratedecelerationdelaydetaindomptdraw reinease offease upenjoingovernguardharnesshelmhinderhindranceholdhold at bayhold back
Show 17 more words
hold fasthold inhold in checkhold in leashhold upimpedeinhibitinhibitioninjunctioninterdictkeepkeep backkeep fromkeep inkeep in checkkeep under controllacing
Verb(2 words)
draw reinharness
Related words (69)
lay under restraintleadershiplegal restraintlet downlet uplimitlimitationlose groundlose momentumlose speedmoderatemonopolyobstructpowerprohibitprohibitionprotectionprotectionismprotective tariffpull
Show 40 more words
pull inrationingreefrein inreinsrelaxrepressrestrainrestraintrestraint of traderestrictretardretardationretrenchretrenchmentroomrulerunningself-controlset backshacklesimmer downslack offslack upslackenslowslow downslow upslowing downsmothersnubstaystraitensuppresstake in sailtariff wallthought controlthrottle downtillerwithhold
Verb(2 words)
rein inrule
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: administration, arrest, arrestation, backpedal, backwater.
- Sentence evidence is available for rein, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from moby, derived_reverse, opengloss, wordnet, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "rein".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "rein"
Keep "rein" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "rein" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "rein", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "rein" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
18 entriesShowing 16 of 18 words.
More specific
12 entriescheck inflationcurb costseconomic controlleather reinlimit growthoperational authoritypolitical powerrestrict accessrope reinslow the pacestop the horseturn the horse
Collocations
9 entrieshold the reinshorse reinsloose reinon the reinsrein strapreining horsereins of powertake the reinstight rein
Inflections
3 entriesSample sentences
20 total sentences available.
She kept a tight rein on the purse strings.
Source: tatoeba (313800)
But, fearing this, the Sire omnipotent / hath buried them in caverns dark and deep, / and o'er them piled huge mountains in a heap, / and set withal a monarch, there to reign, / by compact taught at his command to keep / strict watch, and tighten or relax the rein.
Source: tatoeba (6779225)
So sank the furious wave, / when through the clear sky looking o'er the main, / the sea-king lashed his steeds and slacked the favouring rein.
Source: tatoeba (6783720)
Showing 4 of 20 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "rein"?
Closest matches include administration, arrest, arrestation, backpedal, backwater.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "rein"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.