Synonyms/Hypernyms (Ordered by Estimated Frequency) of verb restrain

5 senses of restrain

Sense 1
restrain, keep, keep back, hold back -- (keep under control; keep in check; "suppress a smile"; "Keep your temper"; "keep your cool")
       => inhibit, bottle up, suppress -- (control and refrain from showing; of emotions, desires, impulses, or behavior)

Sense 2
restrict, restrain, trammel, limit, bound, confine, throttle -- (place limits on (extent or access); "restrict the use of this parking lot"; "limit the time you can spend with your friends")
       => control, hold in, hold, contain, check, curb, moderate -- (lessen the intensity of; temper; hold in restraint; hold or keep within limits; "moderate your alcohol intake"; "hold your tongue"; "hold your temper"; "control your anger")

Sense 3
restrain, confine, hold -- (to close within bounds, limit or hold back from movement; "This holds the local until the express passengers change trains"; "About a dozen animals were held inside the stockade"; "The illegal immigrants were held at a detention center"; "The terrorists held the journalists for ransom")
       => disable, disenable, incapacitate -- (make unable to perform a certain action; "disable this command on your computer")

Sense 4
restrain, encumber, cumber, constrain -- (hold back)
       => restrict, restrain, trammel, limit, bound, confine, throttle -- (place limits on (extent or access); "restrict the use of this parking lot"; "limit the time you can spend with your friends")

Sense 5
intimidate, restrain -- (to compel or deter by or as if by threats)
       => discourage -- (deprive of courage or hope; take away hope from; cause to feel discouraged)