restraint

noun

re·​straint ri-ˈstrānt 

1

a

: an act of restraining : the state of being restrained

b(1)

: a means of restraining : a restraining force or influence

(2)

: a device that restricts movement

a restraint for children riding in cars

2

: a control over the expression of one's emotions or thoughts

Synonyms

• constraint
• continence
• discipline
• discretion
• inhibition
• refrainment
• repression
• reserve
• self-command
• self-control
• self-restraint
• suppression

Examples of restraint in a Sentence

Make sure the child safety restraint is in place.

The prisoner was placed in restraints.

His angry response showed a lack of restraint.

The government has acted with restraint in dealing with this crisis.

Recent Examples on the Web

Still, progressive proponents of the ERA demanded that some legal loophole must exist to circumvent those restraints. —Sarah Bedford, The Washington Examiner, 8 June 2025

Intense hostility all around means that for now, neither Russia nor China is even willing to sit down to discuss nuclear restraints, in treaty form or otherwise. —Matthew Bunn, The Conversation, 6 June 2025

So while fashion has become disillusioned with the quiet luxury aesthetic, Fu’s popularity is testament to the power of elegant restraint. —Kissa Castaneda, Forbes.com, 4 June 2025

Failing that, the only restraint on Trump is the specter of a collapse of Ukraine playing out similarly to the way the American withdrawal from Afghanistan damaged perception of the Biden administration. —Tom Rogers, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French restreinte, from restreindre

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing restraint

• head restraint
• kept/placed under restraint
• passive restraint
• prior restraint
• self-restraint
• under restraint

Rhymes for restraint

• acquaint
• complaint
• constraint
• distraint
• enceinte
• repaint
• faint
• feint
• maint
• paint
• plaint
• quaint

Kids Definition

restraint

noun

re·​straint ri-ˈstrānt 

1

: the act of restraining : the state of being restrained

held in restraint

2

: a restraining force or influence

3

: control over one's behavior

act with restraint

Medical Definition

restraint

noun

re·​straint ri-ˈstrānt 

: a device that restricts movement

restraints such as straitjackets for violent patients

Legal Definition

restraint

noun

re·​straint ri-ˈstrānt 

1

a

: an act or fact of restraining see also prior restraint

b

: the state of being restrained

2

a

: a means of restraining

b

: a device that restricts movement (as of prisoners or violent psychiatric patients)