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Synonyms

self-restraint

American  
[self-ri-streynt, self-] / ˈsɛlf rɪˈstreɪnt, ˌsɛlf- /

noun

  1. restraint imposed on one by oneself; self-control.


self-restraint British  

noun

  1. restraint imposed by oneself on one's own feelings, desires, etc

"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

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of self-restraint

First recorded in 1765–75

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.

See Examples For:

It teaches the difference between boyhood and manhood, between self-indulgence and self-restraint.

From The Wall Street Journal Sep. 3, 2026

Whatever the outcome, the court will be deciding not only the fate of one executive order but whether its own doctrine of self-restraint in election cases still has any meaning.

From Slate Jul. 30, 2026

"I would say that a summary of Chinese policy towards Russia is one of self-restraint," he says.

From BBC May 18, 2026

Despite the usual crowds of thousands, the feeling of self-restraint was more evident this year, the 30-year-old told AFP.

From Barron's Nov. 1, 2025

She could only use patience and self-restraint poor tools when matched against the heartfelt mania of love to which the ancient race was martyred.

From "The Once and Future King" by T. H. White

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