Restraint
What it means
Deliberate control that prevents excessive action, expression, or force.
Reach for it when praising proportionate self-control rather than passivity
The mediator showed restraint and let the angry speaker finish.
Words to choose between 6
| everyday | |
|---|---|
| warm | |
| professional | |
| formal |
|
| literary |
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everyday
Fits when a person governs an impulse
Careful Self-control is personal, not stylistic.
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warm
Fits when excess is avoided through balance
Careful Moderation concerns degree more than inhibition.
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professional
Fits when trained control supports a goal
Careful Discipline is broader and sustained.
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formal
reserve
Fits when expression remains measured
Careful Reserve can seem emotionally distant.
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literary
Fits when someone patiently declines retaliation
Careful Forbearance specifically involves provocation.
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literary
understatement
Fits when artistic expression avoids excess
Careful Understatement is a style, not impulse control.
Opposites 3
- excess
- impulsiveness
- indulgence
Common phrases 3
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show restraint
Both sides showed restraint during the tense march.
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exercise restraint
Editors exercised restraint with the graphic images.
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admirable restraint
Her admirable restraint kept the criticism fair.
Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: Vealhurl, Southern England accent, from Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 Updated