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Synonyms

self-restraint

American  
[self-ri-straynt, 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:

As a result of their less mature brains, kids exhibit less impulse control and self-restraint than adults.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 13, 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

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

The governor of Sweida, Mustapha al-Bakur, called on his constituents to "exercise self-restraint and respond to national calls for reform".

From BBC ● Jul. 13, 2025

Although I know his capacity for self-restraint in a dangerous moment is uncanny.

From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver

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