as in muted
not excessively showy
a restrained but elegant black purse
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of restrained
Jose R. Gonzalez, The Arizona Republic, 20 Nov. 2024
But Judge Declines to Impose Punishment General News How the L.A. Wildfires Are Becoming a Conspiracy-Theorists' Haven -- and a Political Weapon
Locals long have prized Palm Beach for its restrained serenity.
—Beth Landman, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 Jan. 2025
Forum News Service, Twin Cities, 5 Jan. 2025
Three former deputies are indicted in connection with the death of a man restrained in a Virginia jail, authorities said.
—Natalie Demaree, Miami Herald, 3 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for restrained 
Adjective
At one point, video shows as many as seven officers are seen atop Terrell in the isolation room before he is left restrained for several minutes prior to anyone performing CPR on him.
—Jose R. Gonzalez, The Arizona Republic, 20 Nov. 2024
But Judge Declines to Impose Punishment General News How the L.A. Wildfires Are Becoming a Conspiracy-Theorists' Haven -- and a Political Weapon
Locals long have prized Palm Beach for its restrained serenity.
—Beth Landman, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 Jan. 2025
Verb
He was eventually restrained by the patrons.
—Forum News Service, Twin Cities, 5 Jan. 2025
Three former deputies are indicted in connection with the death of a man restrained in a Virginia jail, authorities said.
—Natalie Demaree, Miami Herald, 3 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for restrained
Recent Examples of Synonyms for restrained
Adjective
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Goldman Sachs analyst Eric Sheridan had a more muted view on shares of Netflix.—
Lisa Kailai Han,
CNBC,
22 Jan. 2025
-
Completed in 1914, the canal’s planned grand opening ceremony was canceled because of the outbreak of World War I, with the first vessel passage being a muted affair.—
CNN.com Wire Service,
The Mercury News,
20 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Police say she was arrested and charged with OVI.—
Mike Schell,
The Enquirer,
24 Dec. 2024
-
Listen to this article A man was arrested last week after investigators allegedly found his DNA on a ghost gun that was thrown from a vehicle involved in a police pursuit on Interstate 95 in New Haven in December 2022.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
24 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
Related Articles Tuesday’s interfaith service looked considerably more subdued than Monday night’s Inaugural Balls.—
Rosemary Feitelberg,
WWD,
21 Jan. 2025
-
Victorian Era and British Royalty Eventually, British monarch Queen Victoria gave rise to the mourning brooch a more subdued but meaningful design in which a piece of the deceased's hair—in Victoria’s case, hair from Prince Albert—is incorporated into the design.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
18 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Currently, the disposal of wind turbine waste is regulated by the localities and states hosting wind turbine projects.—
Ariel Cohen,
Forbes,
23 Dec. 2024
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Dietary supplements are minimally regulated by the FDA and may or may not be suitable for you.—
Amy Fischer MS, RD,
Health,
23 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Adebayo did not force his offense, in a game where there was little for the Heat to have to counter in the middle, but then seized control with his scoring late.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
24 Dec. 2024
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Before Hamas seized full control of Gaza in 2007, Christians would often place a large Christmas tree near a major square in Gaza City.—
Aaron Boxerman,
New York Times,
24 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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All the preceding intrigue is really a setup for climactic dialogues between father and daughter that are quiet, unpleasant, but fully loaded with stinging emotional payoff.—
Dennis Harvey,
Variety,
22 Jan. 2025
-
Feedback gets brushed aside, dissenting voices go quiet and innovation dies.—
Mark Kane,
Forbes,
22 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Jabbar's truck contained an ISIS flag.—
Joey Garrison,
USA TODAY,
3 Jan. 2025
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Many of the posts contained hateful messages about Muslim Americans, the same type of bigotry O'Reilly had fought against.—
Niraj Warikoo,
Detroit Free Press,
3 Jan. 2025
Verb
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On their way out the door, Kinch grabbed the pistol and placed it in the console of his truck.—
Joshua Kaplan,
ProPublica,
4 Jan. 2025
-
Multiple officers grabbed Kerley and attempted to take him to the ground.—
Zach Powell,
The Athletic,
4 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near restrained
Cite this Entry
“Restrained.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/restrained. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.
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