Buttonhole and Refrain

Buttonhole

Buttonhole verb - Detain in conversation by or as if by holding on to the outer garments of; as for political or economic favors.

Refrain is an antonym for buttonhole in approach for conversation or solicitation topic.

Nearby Words: buttonholed, buttonholing

Refrain

Refrain verb - Resist doing something.

Buttonhole is an antonym for refrain.

Nearby Words: refrained, refraining
Cite this Source
Refrain and Buttonhole. (2016). Retrieved 2026, August 14, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/buttonhole/refrain
Buttonhole & Refrain. N.p., 2016. Web. 14 Aug. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/buttonhole/refrain>.
Refrain or Buttonhole. 2016. Accessed August 14, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/buttonhole/refrain.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "buttonhole" and "refrain" have occurred on timeline