as in muted
not excessively showy
a restrained but elegant black purse
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
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
2
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of restrained
ABC News,
25 June 2026
Its restrained cinematography helped establish it as a benchmark for Chinese-language arthouse film.
—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
21 June 2026
George Calhoun,
Forbes.com,
26 June 2026
Authorities said Veit restrained the girl before placing her inside the dryer.
—
Michael Sinkewicz,
FOXNews.com,
24 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for restrained
Adjective
The officers and Martin struggle briefly and then he is physically restrained face down.
—
ABC News,
25 June 2026
Its restrained cinematography helped establish it as a benchmark for Chinese-language arthouse film.
—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
21 June 2026
Verb
From June of 2004 to July of 2006, as the subprime bubble was inflating, the Fed raised the interest rate 17 times consecutively – a textbook policy of monetary tightening, unprecedented at the time, which should have restrained credit creation.
—
George Calhoun,
Forbes.com,
26 June 2026
Authorities said Veit restrained the girl before placing her inside the dryer.
—
Michael Sinkewicz,
FOXNews.com,
24 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for restrained
Recent Examples of Synonyms for restrained
Adjective
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Even though Clinton’s remarks Saturday received muted response on cable news due to the heatwave and Trump’s excesses, online the former President deftly tapped into the shifts among Democrats for a more combative approach to curb MAGA.
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Her bronzed makeup look consisted of taupe eyeshadow, black eyeliner, rosy cheeks, and a muted matte lip.
Verb
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Envioscuba uses warehouses controlled by GAESA, the conglomerate run by Cuba's military that was recently sanctioned, according to the Associated Press.
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Britain controlled Florida from 1763 until the territory was returned to Spain at the end of the Revolutionary War in 1783, a period of 20 years.
Verb
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There was briefly some concern earlier this year that Chestnut wouldn’t be able to participate in the 2026 competition after he was arrested for allegedly slapping a man in an Indiana bar.
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Authorities have arrested more than a half dozen people related in relation to Reflecting Pool damage, including former Olympian David Hearn, who was indicted last week on a felony of property destruction.
Adjective
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Color isn't absent from naturalistic gardens, but the palette tends to be tighter and more subdued.
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All in all, Louis's hijinks were much more subdued than in previous years, however.
Verb
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Oil can be produced, taxed, regulated, and wound down on a schedule, without being sold to a saver as a contribution to the energy transition.
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Currently, the only product that is regulated federally with date labels is infant formula.
Verb
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Councilmember Monica Rodriguez, who voted against the proposal in mid-June, voiced fears that the list of noncitizen voters would immediately be seized by federal immigration authorities.
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Meanwhile, Russia’s military on Saturday claimed to have seized the city of Kostiantynivka, a key defensive hub in Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region.
Adjective
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What was once a quiet corner of the terminal – your reward for loyalty or a hefty annual fee – has turned into a cafeteria for the masses.
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Rather than succumb to the misery of its subject matter, Union County is about the quiet, tedious, and remarkable work that is getting and staying sober — the final product a testament to all that can be achieved.
Verb
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Flames raced through rows of vehicles at a Rancho Cordova salvage yard Friday evening, engulfing between 50 and 100 vehicles before more than 70 firefighters contained the blaze and kept it from spreading to neighboring businesses.
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Last July, the Reno Police Department in Nevada said in a news release that a truck shipment managed by Ceva Logistics that contained about $15 million in semiconductors and Apple products was stolen.
Cite this Entry
“Restrained.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/restrained. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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