self-restraint

Meaning

1. 1noununcountableapproving

   The ability to control your own urges, feelings or actions so that you do not do something unwise or hurtful.

   Grammar: No article: He showed great self-restraint, not a self-restraint.

   Patterns

   • show self-restraint
   • exercise self-restraint
   • self-restraint in doing something

   It took real self-restraint not to reply to the angry email.

   The players showed admirable self-restraint after the unfair decision.

   She lacked the self-restraint to stop at one piece of cake.

Common combinations

show self-restraint

The crowd showed self-restraint despite the long delay.

exercise self-restraint

Parents must exercise self-restraint when children misbehave.

lack self-restraint

He lacks self-restraint when he is shopping.

remarkable self-restraint

The goalkeeper showed remarkable self-restraint.

practice self-restraint

Dieters need to practice self-restraint.

Synonyms and how they differ

self-control

Self-control is the more everyday term and can mean managing emotions generally.

discipline

Discipline suggests training and consistent habits, not just holding back in the moment.

restraint

Restraint can describe how an organization or country behaves, not only a person's inner control.

moderation

Moderation means avoiding extremes, which is not necessarily the same as resisting a strong urge.

Opposites

Word family

restrain verb

to hold back

restraint noun

control or limit

restrained adjective

calm and controlled

unrestrained adjective

not controlled or limited

Commonly confused: self-restraint or self-esteem?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “self-restraint”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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