as in controlled
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as in regulated
to keep from exceeding a desirable degree or level (as of expression)
try to curb your curiosity when it comes to your neighbors' business
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Recent Examples of curbed
Literary Hub, 5 Nov. 2025
Sarah Min, CNBC, 30 Mar. 2026
But after Tong said the hitters should be curbed, outfielder Tyrone Taylor fired back.
—Abbey Mastracco, Hartford Courant, 23 Mar. 2026
The administration has cut encounters at the southwest border to a record low, curbed legal migration, and placed a record-high number of people in immigration detention.
—Ximena Bustillo, NPR, 23 Mar. 2026
Flanked by faith leaders, Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard spoke to reporters Thursday, March 19, saying that hate against Jewish people is a serious problem that needs to be curbed because hateful rhetoric can lead to violence.
—Niraj Warikoo, Freep.com, 20 Mar. 2026
Lewandowski has insisted that the contract reviews curbed waste and have not caused delays.
—Nick Miroff, The Atlantic, 13 Mar. 2026
Crude oil surged as much as 29%, the biggest intraday move since April 2020, as more Gulf producers curbed production and Iran named the son of the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as its new supreme leader.
—Nasteho Said, Bloomberg, 9 Mar. 2026
Some regional producers, including in Iraq, have curbed output amid dangers in the Strait of Hormuz.
—Dallas Morning News, 8 Mar. 2026
Others, including China, have curbed fuel exports to preserve supply and keep domestic prices controlled.
—Yongchang Chin, Fortune, 8 Mar. 2026
Adjective
The lack of sufficient post-conflict planning—about what would happen after Gaddafi’s regime was toppled—curbed enthusiasm for future collective security efforts in Syria and elsewhere.
—Literary Hub, 5 Nov. 2025
Verb
That's up from a roughly $250 billion market during the Great Recession, as more stringent lending standards on traditional banks curbed their lending to mid-sized businesses.
—Sarah Min, CNBC, 30 Mar. 2026
But after Tong said the hitters should be curbed, outfielder Tyrone Taylor fired back.
—Abbey Mastracco, Hartford Courant, 23 Mar. 2026
The administration has cut encounters at the southwest border to a record low, curbed legal migration, and placed a record-high number of people in immigration detention.
—Ximena Bustillo, NPR, 23 Mar. 2026
Flanked by faith leaders, Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard spoke to reporters Thursday, March 19, saying that hate against Jewish people is a serious problem that needs to be curbed because hateful rhetoric can lead to violence.
—Niraj Warikoo, Freep.com, 20 Mar. 2026
Lewandowski has insisted that the contract reviews curbed waste and have not caused delays.
—Nick Miroff, The Atlantic, 13 Mar. 2026
Crude oil surged as much as 29%, the biggest intraday move since April 2020, as more Gulf producers curbed production and Iran named the son of the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as its new supreme leader.
—Nasteho Said, Bloomberg, 9 Mar. 2026
Some regional producers, including in Iraq, have curbed output amid dangers in the Strait of Hormuz.
—Dallas Morning News, 8 Mar. 2026
Others, including China, have curbed fuel exports to preserve supply and keep domestic prices controlled.
—Yongchang Chin, Fortune, 8 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for curbed
Adjective
-
Too bad the script feels less controlled and more directionless when each of these characters go head to head with an increasing body count across several bloody incidents.—
Tomris Laffly,
Variety,
14 Mar. 2026
-
Once the legs are free, slow and controlled motions can help a person gradually reach firmer ground.—
Outside,
Outside,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
This indicates that the state is homeostatically regulated — meaning their bodies need it.—
Samantha Agate,
Miami Herald,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Discharges by wastewater treatment plans are regulated by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, which sets temperature and water quality standards.—
Caitlin Looby,
jsonline.com,
27 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Her last and only boyfriend, Tim, would have been too inhibited.—
Cassandra Neyenesch,
New Yorker,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Participants who appeared engaged, responsive, and comfortable in the interaction, maintaining eye contact and seeming open rather than inhibited, were far more likely to be liked.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Forensic drug reports showed that about 98% of medetomidine-positive samples also contained fentanyl.—
Melissa Rudy,
FOXNews.com,
2 Apr. 2026
-
The vessel was missing but was later contained.—
Madeline Bartos,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Grace had given us this restrained performance.—
Chris Murphy,
Vanity Fair,
27 Mar. 2026
-
High ceilings, expansive windows, and a restrained neutral palette creates an atmosphere that feels instantly and effortlessly calm.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Wacha kept the Braves off the scoreboard while Salvador Perez provided the offense, hitting his first homer of the season and snapping a personal 15-inning scoreless streak.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Ultimately, an Ohio family that owns the Browns helped buy the Crew and kept it in Columbus.—
Louisa Thomas,
New Yorker,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
That melatonin your brain just started producing gets suppressed again immediately.—
Allison Palmer,
Miami Herald,
31 Mar. 2026
-
That means speech around controversial issues, diet and fitness, mental health topics, sexuality, and much more will be suppressed.—
Elizabeth Nolan Brown,
Oc Register,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Florida isn’t home to any of the nation’s top 50 banks, measured by deposits.—
Shawn Tully,
Fortune,
31 Mar. 2026
-
But if worthiness is measured by the courage to lead, the humility to listen, the wisdom to hold complexity and the sacred responsibility of walking with people through joy, loss and transformation, then women’s rabbinic leadership has already outgrown the narrow metrics of any centralized system.—
Rabba Sara Hurwitz,
Sun Sentinel,
31 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Curbed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/curbed. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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