restrained

R1E1S1T1R1A1I1N1E1D2
/ɹɪˈstɹeɪnd/

adjective

Held back, limited, kept in check or under control.

“He was restrained by the straight jacket.”

Opposite
Less commonScrabble 11

Meanings

adjectiverestrained (comparative more restrained, superlative most restrained)

comparative more restrained · superlative most restrained

  1. Held back, limited, kept in check or under control.

    He greeted her for the first time in three years with a restrained embrace.

    Synonyms: cold

  2. obsoleteProscribed, restricted.
    1 more example

    Ha? fie, these filthy vices. It were as good To pardon him, that hath from nature stolne a man already made, as to remit Their sawcie sweetnes, that do coyne heauens Image In stamps that are forbid: 'tis all as easie, Falsely to take away a life true made, As to put mettle in restrained meanes To make a false one.

    c. 1603–1604 (date written), William Shakespeare, “Measure for Measure”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene iv], page 69, columns 1-2
verb
  1. participlepastsimple past and past participle of restrain

    He was restrained by the straight jacket.

Synonyms & antonyms

adjectiveHeld back, limited, kept in check or under control.

Similar

More synonyms by meaning

adjectivecool and formal in manner

adjectiveunder restraint

Opposite

adjectivemarked by avoidance of extravagance or extremes

adjectivenot showy or obtrusive

adjectiveprudent

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Translations

Bulgarian сдържан, ограничен
  • сдържан (sdăržan)held back, limited, kept in check or under control
  • ограничен (ograničen)held back, limited, kept in check or under control
Dutch beheerst
  • beheerstheld back, limited, kept in check or under control
Finnish hillitty
  • hillittyheld back, limited, kept in check or under control
German beherrscht, maßvoll
  • beherrschtheld back, limited, kept in check or under control
  • maßvollheld back, limited, kept in check or under control
Irish araíonach
  • araíonachheld back, limited, kept in check or under control
Latin retentus
  • retentusheld back, limited, kept in check or under control
Lithuanian santūrus
  • santūrusheld back, limited, kept in check or under control
Polish powściągliwy, umiarkowany
  • powściągliwyheld back, limited, kept in check or under control
  • umiarkowanyheld back, limited, kept in check or under control
  • wstrzemięźliwyheld back, limited, kept in check or under control
Russian сде́ржанный
  • сде́ржанный (sdéržannyj)held back, limited, kept in check or under control
Spanish reprimido
  • reprimidoheld back, limited, kept in check or under control

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with restrained

All rhymes →
Cite this entry
APA

restrained. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/restrained

MLA

“restrained.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/restrained. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “restrained,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/restrained.

Source: restrained on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.