restraint
Americannoun
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a restraining action or influence.
freedom from restraint.
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Sometimes restraints. a means of or device for restraining, as a harness for the body.
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the act of restraining, holding back, controlling, or checking.
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the state or fact of being restrained; restrained; deprivation of liberty; confinement.
- Synonyms:
- incarceration, imprisonment, restriction, circumscription
- Antonyms:
- liberty
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constraint or reserve in feelings, behavior, etc.
noun
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the ability to control or moderate one's impulses, passions, etc
to show restraint
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the act of restraining or the state of being restrained
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something that restrains; restriction
Other Word Forms
- overrestraint noun
- prerestraint noun
Etymology
Origin of restraint
1350–1400; Middle English restreinte < Middle French restrainte, noun use of feminine past participle of restraindre to restrain
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
And the lack of churn has also been credited to White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, who by most accounts has enforced significant restraint from a famously chaotic leader.
From Slate • Apr. 3, 2026
Their restraint appears to be one of the Iran war’s casualties.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 27, 2026
Dr Frank Slokan led the development of restraint reduction within the SPS and has written a PHD on the subject.
From BBC • Mar. 23, 2026
“As we’ve expressed previously, the very reason for our optimism about a cessation of hostilities is that it would not require a comprehensive peace agreement — with mutual restraint instead being sufficient,” Bishop said.
From MarketWatch • Mar. 23, 2026
And the children had showed admirable restraint when it came to both squirrels and pigeons; Penelope had only had to offer a few cautionary reminders and the occasional distracting biscuit.
From "The Hidden Gallery" by Maryrose Wood
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
