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restrain
verb [T] /rɪˈstreɪn/Definition
C1 to control the actions or behaviour of someone by force, especially in order to stop them from doing something, or to limit the growth or force of something: When he started fighting, it took four police officers to restrain him. She was so angry that she could hardly restrain herself. You should try to restrain your ambitions and be more realistic. Growth in car ownership could be restrained by increasing taxes.Limiting and restrictingPreventing and impeding
(Definition of restrain verb from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus
© Cambridge University Press)
Focus on the pronunciation of restrain
Browse related topics
You are looking at an entry to do with Limiting and restricting, but you might be interested in these topics from the Controlling topic area:
- Affecting and influencing
- Being based on or depending on something
- Controlling and being in charge
- Freedom to act
- Lack of freedom to act
- Liberating, relaxing and releasing
- Managing and organizing
- People in charge of or controlling other people
- Power to control
- Range and limits
- Self-control and moderation
Browse the Thesaurus
SMART Thesaurus: Limiting and restricting
Synonyms and related words:
- box sb in phrasal verb
- chain noun (RINGS)
- circumscribe verb
- clamp down on sth phrasal verb
- clampdown noun
- cramp verb
- curb verb
- curtail verb
- damage limitation noun
- delimit verb
- fetter verb
- hamstring verb
- localize verb
- muzzle verb (ANIMAL)
- non-proliferation noun
- qualification noun (LIMIT)
- ration verb
- rationing noun
- stabilizer noun (CONTROL)
- tie sb down phrasal verb (LIMIT)
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