RESTRAINED Synonyms: 167 Similar and Opposite Words

restrained 1 of 2

adjective

ri-ˈstrānd

Definition of restrained

as in muted

not excessively showy a restrained but elegant black purse

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

restrained

2 of 2

verb

past tense of restrain

as in controlled

to keep from exceeding a desirable degree or level (as of expression) the victim's family members were unable to restrain their emotions upon hearing the verdict

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in arrested

to take or keep under one's control by authority of law the suspect was restrained and taken to an undisclosed location

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of restrained

Adjective

For an actress whose biggest role to date hinged on big emotions, that meant finding a role that was more restrained, more internal, more pragmatic. — Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 6 Oct. 2026 In a city better known for restrained modernism, La Tulipe is a playful bouquet of concrete and colored glass. — Kieron Marchese, Architectural Digest, 6 Oct. 2026

Verb

Once passengers and crew restrained the attacker, the aircraft could be stabilized and redirected toward a suitable airport. — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 30 Sep. 2026 On one difficult night, the foster mother put both of the girl's legs into the single leg of her pajamas to stop her from kicking and tied her in an adult sweatshirt with both of her arms restrained inside. — Joseph Shapiro, NPR, 30 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for restrained

Recent Examples of Synonyms for restrained

Adjective

The characters wear muted, sweeping gowns, their hair often loose.

— Emily Zemler, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026
Stock futures are mixed this morning after the S&P 500 kicked off the week with a muted session.

— Alex Harring, CNBC, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of muted

Verb

Cologne police spokesman Christoph Bermel said the two male teenagers have not been charged but are considered suspects, and investigators were examining whether the robot's movements were preprogrammed or controlled in real time.

— ABC News, ABC News, 13 Oct. 2026
Crimes reported on Cornell's campus are generally investigated by campus police, a department that has full law enforcement powers but is controlled by the university.

— CBS News, CBS News, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of controlled

Verb

Agents arrested four people, including the property owner, and arrested a fifth the next day, according to previous Statesman reporting.

— Sarah Cutler, Idaho Statesman, 19 Oct. 2026
Among the 105 people who were ultimately arrested, 75 are believed to have been deported to their home countries, according to local media, and 26 were released from ICE custody after their lawyers filed habeas corpus petitions.

— Philip Wang, Time, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of arrested

Adjective

The subdued crowd in Chavez Ravine was often drowned out by the paltry number of Brewers fans in attendance.

— Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2026
The shoes served as a warm and subdued complement to the bright color of her dress, and still stood out with a sharp toe and stiletto heel.

— Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of subdued

Verb

Supplements, on the other hand, are regulated under the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994, which holds manufacturers responsible for ensuring that their supplements are safe and properly labeled.

— Andrew Yockey, Fortune, 15 Oct. 2026
Like other supplements, creatine is not FDA-regulated for safety and effectiveness, so the onus is on the consumer to choose a trustworthy brand.

— Maggie Ryan, Flow Space, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of regulated

Verb

The latest conflict between the Saudis and the Houthis began last month after the rebels seized key areas along the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a critical waterway for oil shipments.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 16 Oct. 2026
Another Renoir, a Cézanne and a Matisse were taken from the Magnani Rocca Foundation near Parma, Italy, in March (and also later recovered), while four Renaissance paintings by Antonello da Messina were seized from a Sicilian museum in August.

— Lianne Kolirin, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of seized

Verb

The papers are said to have contained highly sensitive information, some likely supplied by Germany’s intelligence partners – so the affair could have serious international ramifications at a time when Europe is facing grave security threats.

— The Week UK, TheWeek, 17 Oct. 2026
Failure by itself did not create an advantage, but previous performance still contained useful information about what a founder might do next.

— Bernardo Saraiva, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of contained

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restrain

restrained

restrainedly

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Style

“Restrained.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/restrained. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of restrained

adjective

verb

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