restrainable

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

re-strain  (rē strān′), v.t., v.i. 

1. to strain again.

• re- + strain¹ 1870–75

re•strain  (ri strān′), v.t. 

1. to hold back from action;
   keep in check or under control;
   repress:
   to restrain one's temper.
2. to deprive of liberty, as by arrest or the like.
3. to limit or hamper the activity, growth, or effect of:
   to restrain trade with Cuba.

• Latin restringere to bind back, bind fast, equivalent. to re- re- + stringere to draw together; see strain¹
• Middle French restreindre
• Middle English restreynen 1350–1400

re•strain′a•ble, adj. 
re•strain′a•bil′i•ty, n. 
re•strain′ing•ly, adv. 
Synonyms

• 1. bridle, suppress, constrain. See check. 
• 2. restrict, circumscribe, confine, hinder, hamper.

Antonyms

• 1. unbridle.
• 2. free, liberate.