restraint
Holding oneself back
Restraint is the act of holding back or keeping something in check, whether physically, emotionally, or socially.
A person exercising restraint controls their impulses or actions: She showed admirable restraint by not responding to the insult.
Physical restraints are devices that limit movement, like handcuffs or straps used in medical settings.
The word also describes a quality of moderation or self-control in behavior, taste, or expression—someone who dresses with restraint avoids flashiness.
Regulating one's own behavior
- willpowerMental strength resisting impulse
- moderationAvoidance of excess
- temperanceHabitual moderation in behavior
- composureEmotional self-control
forbearance · abstinence · sobriety · stoicism · equanimity · poise · patience · self-mastery
Erotic power dynamics
- dominationSupreme authority held
- submissionYielding to another's will
- handcuffsLocking wrist restraints
- blindfoldSight-blocking eye cover
rope · bondage · collar · aftercare · discipline · binding · ties · cuffs
Bound on extent
bounds · control · regulation · containment · brake · damper · governor · throttle
Careful, wise judgment
- warinessCautious distrust
- circumspectionCareful consideration of consequences
- discretionCareful judgment in speech
- judiciousnessCareful, wise reasoning
carefulness · deliberation · hesitation · reservation · forethought · vigilance · heedfulness · guardedness
Locking wrist restraints
- shacklesMetal bonds for prisoners
- bondsTies that unite
- chainsLinked metal restraints
- strapsNarrow securing bands
manacles · fetters · bindings · cuffs · zip-ties · straightjacket · hobbles · tether
Vehicle passenger restraint
Temporary official holding
- custodyProtective care or control
- incarcerationConfinement in jail
- imprisonmentLegal detention in jail
- internmentWartime civilian imprisonment
remand · lockup · holding · captivity · quarantine · house-arrest · jail · prison
self-discipline
Regulating one's own behavior
- willpowerMental strength resisting impulse
- moderationAvoidance of excess
- temperanceHabitual moderation in behavior
composure · forbearance · abstinence · sobriety · stoicism · equanimity · poise · patience · self-mastery · reserve
BDSM
Erotic power dynamics
- dominationSupreme authority held
- submissionYielding to another's will
- handcuffsLocking wrist restraints
blindfold · rope · bondage · collar · aftercare · discipline · binding · ties · cuffs · dominatrix
limitation
Bound on extent
ceiling · bounds · control · regulation · containment · brake · damper · governor · throttle · moratorium
prudence
Careful, wise judgment
- warinessCautious distrust
- circumspectionCareful consideration of consequences
- discretionCareful judgment in speech
judiciousness · carefulness · deliberation · hesitation · reservation · forethought · vigilance · heedfulness · guardedness · conservatism
handcuffs
Locking wrist restraints
straps · manacles · fetters · bindings · cuffs · zip-ties · straightjacket · hobbles · tether · leash
seatbelt
Vehicle passenger restraint
detention
Temporary official holding
- custodyProtective care or control
- incarcerationConfinement in jail
- imprisonmentLegal detention in jail
internment · remand · lockup · holding · captivity · quarantine · house-arrest · jail · prison · cell
- controlremote control, self-control, birth control, crowd control, cruise control
- Playing it safecaution, prudence, baby steps, waiting, hesitation
- proprietydecorum, decency, propriety, correctness, suitability
- prudencecaution, discretion, foresight, forethought, judiciousness
- refinementrefinement, elegance, sophistication, polish, taste
- asceticismabstinence, celibacy, ascetic, austerities, chastity
restraintabandon
Leave behind permanently
self-indulgence · unrestraint · excess · disinhibition · wildness
restraintcandor
Unguarded truthfulness
frankness · openness · outspokenness · bluntness · forthrightness
- child restraint systemVehicle seating for minors
- child restraintSafety device securing young passengers
- without restraint
- head restraintVehicle neck protection device
- chemical restraintDrugs limiting patient movement
- emotional restraintSuppressing outward feeling display
restrain, restrained, unrestrained, restraints, restrains, self-restraint