Govern
Govern verb - To keep from exceeding a desirable degree or level (as of expression).
Usage example: you need to govern your speech and be able to communicate your outrage without resorting to profanity
Hold back and govern are semantically related. in control topic. In some cases you can use "Hold back" instead a verb "Govern".
Hold back
Hold back verb - To refrain from openly showing or uttering.
Usage example: held back her tears until she was alone
Mutual synonyms
Cite this Source
Hold back and Govern. (2016). Retrieved 2026, August 08, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/govern/hold_back
Govern & Hold back. N.p., 2016. Web. 08 Aug. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/govern/hold_back>.
Hold back or Govern. 2016. Accessed August 08, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/govern/hold_back.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "govern" and "hold back" have occurred on timeline