Synonyms for restrain

29 synonyms
5 antonyms
1 meaning

verb

Most common

All synonyms

Verb

1. Confine — to deprive of liberty

confine, detain, suppress, restrict, constrain, impede, hinder, keep, repress, hold, limit, prevent, keep back, curb US, curtail, subdue, inhibit, hold back, stop, stifle, bind, rein

Other

enjoin, check, temper, revoke, dam, underbring, abate

Antonyms

impel, liberate, goad

All antonyms of restrain →

Definitions

v. 1
To deprive of liberty.

Related words

Word family: restrainable restrainer restrainment restraint restrict

Forms

Past participle: restrained
e.g. restrained → confined, detained, suppressed, restricted…

Choose the right word

Restrain, Keeps, Conducts, Carries On, Carries or Keep?

A person keeps a shop or store, conducts or carries on a business; he keeps or carries a certain line of goods; we may keep or restrain one from folly, crime, or violence; we keep from or refrain from evil, ourselves.

J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)

Example sentences

restrict He feels this new law will restrict his freedom.
suppress It was very hard for her to suppress her emotions.
detain Are you coming willingly, or do we have to detain you?
confine Confine your remarks to the matter we are discussing.
temper There's no need to get so angry. Keep your temper.
revoke We don't think they have the ability to revoke your privileges.

Popularity over time

Word	1850 → 2019	Trend
restrain		falling
restrict		steady
suppress		steady
detain		steady
confine		falling
temper		rising

Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.

By length

3 letters: dam¹
4 letters: keep¹, stop¹, hold¹, curb¹, bind¹, rein¹
5 letters: check¹, limit², abate²
6 letters: temper², hinder², revoke², detain², impede², subdue², stifle², enjoin²
7 letters: prevent², inhibit³, curtail², confine², repress²
8 letters: restrict², suppress²
9 letters: constrain²
10 letters: underbring

The small number after each word is its number of syllables (limit² = 2 syllables).