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
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
Changes in legislation last year outlawed the use of face down prone restraints on students and resulted in several police departments to suspend its school officer agreements and remove officers from campuses.
—
Jacqueline Devine, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2025
Under Cohen and president of baseball operations David Stearns, the Mets showed financial restraint in dealing with Alonso, a fan favorite in New York.
—Will Sammon, The Athletic, 6 Feb. 2025
Family buyers should keep in mind that while both seat seven or eight, middle seats don’t have head rest or restraints and are better for shorter passengers, whose heads don’t rise above the seat back.
—Scotty Reiss, Parents, 6 Feb. 2025
This kind of restraint is not allowed in Arkansas except in a crisis to prevent physical harm, according to education officials.
—Penny Weaver, arkansasonline.com, 5 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for restraint 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Jacqueline Devine, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2025
Under Cohen and president of baseball operations David Stearns, the Mets showed financial restraint in dealing with Alonso, a fan favorite in New York.
—Will Sammon, The Athletic, 6 Feb. 2025
Family buyers should keep in mind that while both seat seven or eight, middle seats don’t have head rest or restraints and are better for shorter passengers, whose heads don’t rise above the seat back.
—Scotty Reiss, Parents, 6 Feb. 2025
This kind of restraint is not allowed in Arkansas except in a crisis to prevent physical harm, according to education officials.
—Penny Weaver, arkansasonline.com, 5 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for restraint
Dictionary Entries Near restraint
Cite this Entry
“Restraint.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/restraint. Accessed 11 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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)
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