restrained

adjective

re·​strained ri-ˈstrānd How to pronounce restrained (audio)
: marked by restraint : not excessive or extravagant
restrainedly adverb

Examples of restrained in a Sentence

She was admired for her restrained behavior. a restrained style of architecture The room was decorated with restrained colors.
Recent Examples on the Web But Steves says that perception is more restrained among Europeans than it might be portrayed in the media. Zach Dennis, Charlotte Observer, 17 Feb. 2024 Where Ella Fitzgerald quivered her voice with a little hope on her rendition and Willie Nelson went full country funk with his, winking his way through every line, Del Rey sounds restrained and distant, as if the blue skies are those of a horizon far away. Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 14 Feb. 2024 Fisher's film is in many ways more restrained than a great deal of Hammer's output, yet that allows its punches to land even harder. Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 16 Oct. 2023 The Zone of Interest is an eerie and restrained study of the Holocaust that never shows a single frame of the atrocity. Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 16 Dec. 2023 The Ioniq 6's bold exterior is partnered with a more restrained interior that, while not flashy, is spacious and comfortable. Jonathan M. Gitlin, Ars Technica, 29 Dec. 2023 Obama declined, for example, to send lethal arms to Ukraine after Russia annexed Crimea and occupied Donbas in 2014, arguing in restrained balance-of-power fashion that Russia had greater interests in Ukraine than the West did. Christian Schneider, National Review, 21 Dec. 2023 Other mayors have been fashion plates, from the dandy style of 1920s Jimmy Walker to the restrained bow ties of David Dinkins. Sarah Maslin Nir, New York Times, 10 Jan. 2024 While the basic Cava is exuberant, this is more restrained and complex, with aromas of white flowers and flavors of green apples and pears. Dave McIntyre, Washington Post, 7 Dec. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'restrained.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of restrained was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near restrained

Cite this Entry

“Restrained.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/restrained. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

restrained

adjective
re·​strained ri-ˈstrānd How to pronounce restrained (audio)
: marked by restraint : showing careful control
restrainedly adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on restrained

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