You should learn to restrain yourself.
Source: tatoeba (16033)
Restrain
/ɹɪˈstɹeɪn/
Synonyms for "restrain" (438 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (88)
Strong matches (131)
coopcoop incoop upcopyrightcorkcork upcountercheckcribcrimpcurbcurtaildamdam updampdampende emphasizede-emphasizedeadendebardecelerate
Show 61 more words
delaydenydetaindeterdiminishdisciplinediscouragedomptdownplaydraw the linedrivedullembargoencageenchainencloseenforceenjoinentrammelextenuatefastenfence infetterfoilforbearforbidforcegaggovernguardgyvehamperhandcuffhandicaphavehedgehedge abouthem inhinderhobblehog tiehog-tieholdhold at bayhold backhold downhold fasthold inhold in checkhold in custodyhold in leashhold in restrainthold uphoppleimmureimpedeimpelimpoundimprisonincarcerateinhibit
Noun(31 words)
coopingcrampcuffcuffingcuffscurbingcurbsdamdampsdemurerdetainingdiscipline field notebookdiscipline related termdiscipline yourselfdisciplinesdog muzzledog muzzlingfetfetteringfetters
Show 11 more words
Adjective(1 words)
Related words (219)
Verb(38 words)
inhibitinhibitedinhibitskeepkeep backleashedmanacledmoderatedmortifymuzzledpinpinionedpinnedpreventedreinedrepressedrepressesrestrictrestrict contactrestrict decisions
Show 18 more words
restrict privilegessecureshow restraintsoberedstaunchesstifledstiflesstoppedsubduedsubduessubjugatesuppressedtamedtamestempertie upunderplayswithstrain
Noun(46 words)
inhibitinginterdictingkiboshlassoslimit behaviorlimit decisionslimitinglimiting adjectivemanaclingmanage yourselfmenkentmuzzlermuzzlesmuzzlingnecktiesoperate controllablypinioningpinionspinspress down
Show 26 more words
qualifyingrefrainingreiningreinsromanian imobilizaself censor languageself controlledshacklesshacklingsilence ordersparingstaunchingstemmingstraightjacketstraightjacketsstraitjacketingstraitjacketssubduingtamingtamptaseringthrottleunderplayinguse forcevanquishedwrists
interceptinterfereinterfere withintermeddleinterruptintervenekeepkeep backkeep fromkeep inkeep in checkkeep in custodykeep in detentionkeep under controlkeep within boundslashlaylay under restraintleashleaven
Show 109 more words
lenifylessenlightenlimitlimitationlocklock upmakemake fastmanaclemeddlemewmew upmitigatemoderatemoderationmodifymodulatemoormuzzlenarrowobstructobtundopposepalliatepatentpegpeg downpenpen uppicketpin downpinionplay downpoundprescriptionpreventprohibitproscriptionpullpull inpurifyput in ironsqualificationqualifyrailrail inreducereduce the temperaturerefrainregisterregulateregulate byreinrein inrepressresistrestrictrestrictionretardretrenchropescantscotchseal upseasonsecureset backset conditionsset limitsshackleshut inshut upsilencesimmer downsimplifyslackenslow downsmothersnubsobersober downsoftenspecializestiflestintstopstraitenstraitjacketstrapstultifysubduesuppresstake the edge offtametempertetherthwarttietie downtie uptone downtrammeltune downunderplayuse force uponwall inweakenwithhold
Adjective(6 words)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: limit, abate, abnegating, act civilly, adjourn.
- Sentence evidence is available for restrain, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wiktionary, opengloss, moby, derived_reverse, 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 "restrain".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "restrain"
Keep "restrain" 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 "restrain" 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 "restrain", 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 "restrain" 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
17 entriesShowing 16 of 17 words.
More specific
12 entriesCollocations
6 entriesrestrain emotionrestrain expenditurerestrain fromrestrain growthrestrain oneselfrestrain violence
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
4 entriesSample sentences
14 total sentences available.
Before the horse race begins, the jockeys grip the reins tightly to restrain the impatient horses.
Source: tatoeba (19264)
I told Jim to restrain himself from drinking too much.
Source: tatoeba (253900)
I couldn't restrain a smile.
Source: tatoeba (261435)
Showing 4 of 14 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "restrain"?
Closest matches include limit, abate, abnegating, act civilly, adjourn.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "restrain"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.