Restrain
Restrain verb - To keep from exceeding a desirable degree or level (as of expression).
Usage example: the victim's family members were unable to restrain their emotions upon hearing the verdict
Repress is a synonym for restrain in control topic. In some cases you can use "Repress" instead a verb "Restrain", when it comes to topics like suppress, hold back, put down, restrain free speech. popular alternative
Mutual synonyms
Common collocations
| people | restrain people | repress people |
| way | restrain way | repress way |
| emotions | restrain emotions | repress emotions |
| tendencies | restrain tendencies | repress tendencies |
| Other words: urges. | ||
Cite this Source
Repress and Restrain. (2016). Retrieved 2026, August 13, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/restrain/repress
Restrain & Repress. N.p., 2016. Web. 13 Aug. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/restrain/repress>.
Repress or Restrain. 2016. Accessed August 13, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/restrain/repress.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "restrain" and "repress" have occurred on timeline