restrained

[ri-streynd]

See more synonyms for restrained on Thesaurus.com

adjective

characterized by restraint: The actor gave a restrained performance.

Origin of restrained

First recorded in 1570–80; restrain + -ed²

Related formsre·strain·ed·ly, adverbnon·re·strained, adjective

re-strain

[ree-streyn]

verb (used with or without object)

to strain again.

Origin of re-strain

First recorded in 1870–75; re- + strain¹

Can be confusedre-strain restrain

restrain

[ri-streyn]

verb (used with object)

to hold back from action; keep in check or under control; repress: to restrain one's temper.
to deprive of liberty, as by arrest or the like.
to limit or hamper the activity, growth, or effect of: to restrain trade with Cuba.

Origin of restrain

1350–1400; Middle English restreynen < Middle French restreindre < Latin restringere to bind back, bind fast, equivalent to re- re- + stringere to draw together; see strain¹

Related formsre·strain·a·ble, adjectivere·strain·a·bil·i·ty, nounre·strain·ing·ly, adverbo·ver·re·strain, verb (used with object)pre·re·strain, verb (used with object)un·re·strain·a·ble, adjective

Can be confusedrefrain restrainre-strain restrain

Synonyms

See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.com

1. bridle, suppress, constrain. 2. restrict, circumscribe, confine, hinder, hamper.

Synonym study

1. See check¹.

Antonyms

1. unbridle. 2. free, liberate.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for restrained

Contemporary Examples

The Indian navy was so eager to strike it had to be restrained by the high command.
ICYMI: India-Pakistan Head for Nuke War
Bruce Riedel
October 20, 2014
His movie producer character, Bobby Gould, is restrained but still crackling with energy.
London Laughs at Lindsay Lohan’s West End Debut
Nico Hines
September 24, 2014
The worst part is that Focus on the Family is restrained compared to other Christian conservative child-rearing advice.
The Adrian Peterson Beating and the Christian Right's Love of Corporal Punishment
Amanda Marcotte
September 16, 2014
“We can use rooftop solar to alleviate areas where supply is restrained,” he said.
Panel Discussion
The Daily Beast
September 8, 2014
He is in his late forties; intelligent, people say, but stiff and restrained, an eternal bachelor.
Adam Hochschild on Keeping Company With His Dying Father
Adam Hochschild
June 14, 2014

Historical Examples

But he had not done so, and she was glad he could be restrained and deliberate in that "breedy" sort of way.
The Spenders
Harry Leon Wilson
But his curiosity was too strong to be restrained by mere compassion.
The Secret Agent
Joseph Conrad
He felt her eye was upon him, and restrained his emotions as he proceeded.
Night and Morning, Complete
Edward Bulwer-Lytton
But even in his fierce young indignation he restrained himself.
The Widow O'Callaghan's Boys
Gulielma Zollinger
It restrained him, opposed the will of him toward personal liberty.
White Fang
Jack London

British Dictionary definitions for restrained

restrained

adjective

(of a person or person's manner) calm and unemotional
(of clothes, décor, etc) subtle and tasteful

Derived Formsrestrainedly (rɪˈstreɪnɪdlɪ), adverb

restrain

verb (tr)

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

Derived Formsrestrainable, adjective

Word Origin

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for restrained

adj.

"repressed, kept under control," 1570s, past participle adjective from restrain.

restrain

v.

mid-14c., from stem of Old French restreindre "press, push together; curb, bridle; bandage" (12c.), from Latin restringere "draw back tightly, confine, check" (see restriction). Related: Restrained; restraining.

That which we restrain we keep within limits; that which we restrict we keep within certain definite limits; that which we repress we try to put out of existence. [Century Dictionary, 1902]

re-strain

v.

"strain again," 1874, from re- + strain (v.). Related: Re-strained; re-straining.

restrained

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}restrained

re-strain

Origin of re-strain

restrain

Origin of restrain

Synonyms

Synonym study

Antonyms

Related Words

Examples from the Web for restrained

Contemporary Examples

The Indian navy was so eager to strike it had to be restrained by the high command.

His movie producer character, Bobby Gould, is restrained but still crackling with energy.

The worst part is that Focus on the Family is restrained compared to other Christian conservative child-rearing advice.

“We can use rooftop solar to alleviate areas where supply is restrained,” he said.

He is in his late forties; intelligent, people say, but stiff and restrained, an eternal bachelor.

Historical Examples

But he had not done so, and she was glad he could be restrained and deliberate in that "breedy" sort of way.

But his curiosity was too strong to be restrained by mere compassion.

He felt her eye was upon him, and restrained his emotions as he proceeded.

But even in his fierce young indignation he restrained himself.

It restrained him, opposed the will of him toward personal liberty.

restrained

restrain

Word Origin

Word Origin and History for restrained

adj.

restrain

v.

re-strain

v.

Origin of restrained