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Definition of "restraint" []

  • The act of restraining or the condition of being restrained. (noun)
  • Loss or abridgment of freedom. (noun)
  • An influence that inhibits or restrains; a limitation. (noun)
  • An instrument or a means of restraining. (noun)
  • Control or repression of feelings; constraint. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Use "restraint" in a sentence
  • "To make such outrageous claims with the only possible goal being to rile up the masses (a strategy attempted during the campaign as well), and then to advise "restraint" is beyond hypocritical."
  • "He learns from them that "restraint" is advised by practically every author, but according to the character of the author he will find that "restraint" means having the marriage relation with his wife not more than three times a week, or once a month – or never at all except for the protection of children."
  • "The Israelis are trying to show what they describe as restraint on the ground to test Arafat to see if, in fact, he can use his powers of persuasion, not only within the Palestinian movement that he is at the top of but through all of the other factions that he doesn't have necessary control over but can use his voice to speak to to bring what has not happened in so many months there -- a cease-fire, an end of violence between the Palestinians and the Israelis."