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
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of restrained
Angela Tafoya, Vogue, 16 Apr. 2026
Color still finds its way into the home, though in a restrained, thoughtful way.
—Tori Latham, Robb Report, 14 Apr. 2026
Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 24 Apr. 2026
The lawsuit describes how the assault on the women continued outside the cafeteria, with officers beating and spraying women restrained in zip-ties.
—William Melhado, Sacbee.com, 24 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for restrained
Adjective
The interiors lean into natural materials and a restrained palette, letting the original bones of the structure shine.
—Angela Tafoya, Vogue, 16 Apr. 2026
Color still finds its way into the home, though in a restrained, thoughtful way.
—Tori Latham, Robb Report, 14 Apr. 2026
Verb
But in Pinkleton's show, that energy is noticeably restrained.
—Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 24 Apr. 2026
The lawsuit describes how the assault on the women continued outside the cafeteria, with officers beating and spraying women restrained in zip-ties.
—William Melhado, Sacbee.com, 24 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for restrained
Recent Examples of Synonyms for restrained
Adjective
-
Its pretty plaid is in muted tones on good-quality, abrasion-resistant material, with a minimalist shape that anchors a room.—
Gretta Monahan,
Boston Herald,
30 Apr. 2026
-
In their own muted ways, her colleagues agreed.—
Mark Dee
April 28,
Idaho Statesman,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
If the user followed the instructions, including entering a PIN or scanning a QR code, their Signal accounts were linked to an external device controlled by the hackers.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
27 Apr. 2026
-
McKinsey estimates that $100 trillion in wealth will pass to the next generation over the next few decades—and by 2030, 40% of investable wealth will be controlled by women.—
Nicholas Gordon,
Fortune,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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In a letter to senators earlier this year, then-Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said that between January and November of last year, 261 DACA recipients were arrested and 86 were removed from the country.—
Ximena Bustillo,
NPR,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Three people were arrested after shots were fired at officers attempting to pull a vehicle over in the Brighton Park neighborhood, Chicago police said.—
Deanese Williams-Harris,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
For a more subdued columbine, look to the ‘pink lantern’ varietal.—
Ashley Chalmers,
The Spruce,
26 Apr. 2026
-
So far, with real estate prices under pressure [in China], confidence in Chinese market remains subdued.—
Elsa Ohlen,
CNBC,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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They’re regulated by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to ensure proper safeguards are in place to prevent microscopic cement particles from causing health problems in nearby residents.—
Harrison Mantas,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
25 Apr. 2026
-
The president did not legalize psychedelics or weed, but his orders change the way these drugs will be regulated.—
O. Rose Broderick,
STAT,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Authorities also seized multiple weapons, ammunition and explosive devices, the military said.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Some vessels with links to Iran made attempts to move through the strait, but others are staying away after Iran attacked three ships with gunfire earlier this week and seized two more.—
NPR Staff,
NPR,
24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
As the Moon moves through your 12th House of Solitude, quiet preparation sharpens your thinking.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Despite a quiet start on radar, the weather is expected to turn more active later in the day.—
Lissette Gonzalez,
CBS News,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The authors argued that the typical American diet contained excessive calories and fat and lacked sufficient amounts of complex carbohydrates and dietary fiber.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
30 Apr. 2026
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Burick and one of his students assemble the base for one of ENIAC’s three portable function tables, which contained banks of switches that stored numerical constants.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
30 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Restrained.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/restrained. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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