Restrained — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective verb /ri-ˈstrānd/ re·strained

Meaning & Definition of Restrained

Restrained (adjective)

  1. marked by restraint, not excessive or extravagant

Restrained (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. not excessively showy

    "a restrained but elegant black purse"

    similar: conservative, low-key, muted, quiet, repressed, sober, subdued, toned-down, understated, unflashy, unpretentious
    related: appropriate, becoming, fit, fitting, proper, suitable, modest, plain, simple, unadorned, undecorated, inconspicuous, unnoticeable, unobtrusive, graceful, handsome, refined, tasteful, drab, mousy, practical, sensible
    opposite: flamboyant, flaring, flashy, garish, gaudy, glitzy, loud, noisy, ostentatious, razzle-dazzle, splashy, swank
    near: meretricious, graceless, inelegant, tacky, tasteless, tawdry, trashy, vulgar, baroque, fancy, frilly, gilded, ornate, rococo, overdecorated, overdone, overwrought

Restrained (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. 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"

    similar: bridled, checked, constrained, contained, controlled, curbed, governed, held, inhibited, kept, measured, pulled in, regulated, reined (in), ruled, tamed
    related: bottled (up), choked (back), held back, minced, muffled, pocketed, repressed, sank, smothered, squelched, stifled, strangled, suppressed, swallowed, arrested, interrupted, stopped, blocked, hampered, handcuffed, hindered, impeded, obstructed, gagged, muzzled, silenced
    opposite: lost
    near: liberated, loosed, loosened, unleashed, aired, expressed, took out, vented

  2. to take or keep under one's control by authority of law

    "the suspect was restrained and taken to an undisclosed location"

    similar: apprehended, arrested, busted (slang), collared, nabbed, nailed, nicked (British slang), picked up, pinched, pulled in, ran in, seized
    related: bagged, captured, caught, got, grabbed, grappled, hooked, landed, snapped (up), snared, snatched, trapped, committed, confined, detained, held, immured, imprisoned, incarcerated, interned, jailed, jugged, locked (up), bound, enchained, fettered, handcuffed, manacled, shackled, trammeled, rearrested, remanded
    opposite: discharged
    near: emancipated, freed, liberated, loosed, loosened, released, sprang, unbound, unchained

Related Entry: Restrain (verb)

Restrain is a different word from Restrained. The synonyms below are for restrain, not for restrained.

  1. 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"

    similar: bridle, check, constrain, contain, control, curb, govern, hold, inhibit, keep, measure, pull in, regulate, rein (in), rule, tame
    related: bottle (up), choke (back), hold back, mince, muffle, pocket, repress, sink, smother, squelch, stifle, strangle, suppress, swallow, arrest, interrupt, stop, block, hamper, handcuff, hinder, impede, obstruct, gag, muzzle, silence
    opposite: lose
    near: liberate, loose, loosen, unleash, air, express, take out, vent

  2. to take or keep under one's control by authority of law

    "the suspect was restrained and taken to an undisclosed location"

    similar: apprehend, arrest, bust (slang), collar, nab, nail, nick (British slang), pick up, pinch, pull in, run in, seize
    related: bag, capture, catch, get, grab, grapple, hook, land, snap (up), snare, snatch, trap, commit, confine, detain, hold, immure, imprison, incarcerate, intern, jail, jug, lock (up), bind, enchain, fetter, handcuff, manacle, shackle, trammel, rearrest, remand
    opposite: discharge
    near: emancipate, free, liberate, loose, loosen, release, spring, unbind, unchain

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Restrained

The most common words with a similar meaning to Restrained:

Slang: busted
British slang: nicked
conservative, low-key, muted, quiet, repressed, sober, subdued, toned-down, understated, unflashy, unpretentious, bridled, checked, constrained, contained, controlled, curbed, governed, held, inhibited, kept, measured, pulled in, regulated, reined (in), ruled, tamed, apprehended, arrested, collared, nabbed, nailed, picked up, pinched, ran in, seized

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Restrained

Words with the opposite meaning of Restrained:

flamboyant, flaring, flashy, garish, gaudy, glitzy, loud, noisy, ostentatious, razzle-dazzle, splashy, swank, lost, discharged

Related Words for Restrained

appropriate, becoming, fit, fitting, proper, suitable, modest, plain, simple, unadorned, undecorated, inconspicuous, unnoticeable, unobtrusive, graceful, handsome, refined, tasteful, drab, mousy, practical, sensible, bottled (up), choked (back), held back, minced, muffled, pocketed, sank, smothered

Near Antonyms of Restrained

meretricious, graceless, inelegant, tacky, tasteless, tawdry, trashy, vulgar, baroque, fancy, frilly, gilded, ornate, rococo, overdecorated, overdone, overwrought, liberated, loosed, loosened, unleashed, aired, expressed, took out, vented, emancipated, freed, released, sprang, unbound

Word Forms of Restrained

Derived words: restrainedly (adverb)

Origin & Etymology of Restrained

First known use: 14th century

Frequently Asked Questions about Restrained

What does "Restrained" mean?

"Restrained" means marked by restraint, not excessive or extravagant. As an an adjective and a verb, it is defined as: marked by restraint, not excessive or extravagant. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Restrained"?

Other words for "Restrained" include conservative, low-key, muted, quiet, repressed, sober, subdued and toned-down. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Restrained" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Restrained"?

There are 114 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Restrained". Common alternatives include conservative, low-key, muted, quiet, repressed, sober, subdued, toned-down, understated and unflashy.

What is the opposite of "Restrained"?

Antonyms of "Restrained" include flamboyant, flaring, flashy, garish, gaudy, glitzy, loud and noisy. Near antonyms include meretricious, graceless, inelegant and tacky.

How do you use "Restrained" in a sentence?

Examples of "Restrained" in a sentence: "a restrained but elegant black purse"; "the victim's family members were unable to restrain their emotions upon hearing the verdict"; "the suspect was restrained and taken to an undisclosed location".

Is "Restrained" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Restrained" can be used as an adjective and a verb, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Restrained"?

"Restrained" is pronounced /ri-ˈstrānd/ and divided into syllables as re·strained.

What is the origin of the word "Restrained"?

First known use: 14th century.