Definition

Noun: 1. Control over one's own impulses, emotions, or desires: The act of holding back or limiting one's own actions, reactions, or feelings, especially when they are strong or potentially harmful. 2. The quality of being moderate or disciplined in one's behavior: The practice of showing moderation and avoiding excess, often in speech or action.

Usage and Examples

• He showed remarkable self-restraint by not responding to the insult.
• Managing one's anger requires a great deal of self-restraint.
• The diplomat's self-restraint during the tense negotiations helped prevent an escalation.
• She exercised self-restraint and only ate one piece of cake.

Advanced Usage

• "To exercise self-restraint": This is the most common collocation, emphasizing the active and conscious application of control.
  • Citizens were urged to exercise self-restraint during the crisis.
• "An act of self-restraint": Used to describe a specific instance of controlling oneself.
  • Not buying the expensive watch was an act of self-restraint.

Variants and Related Words

• Restraint (n): A more general term for control or limitation, which can be imposed by oneself or by external forces.
• Self-control (n): A very close synonym, often used interchangeably with self-restraint.
• Self-discipline (n): Emphasizes consistent training and control of one's behavior and habits to achieve a goal.
• Temperance (n): Formal word for moderation and self-restraint, especially regarding alcohol or pleasure.

Synonyms

• Self-control
• Discipline
• Willpower
• Composure
• Forbearance

Antonyms

• Self-indulgence
• Impulsiveness
• Lack of control
• Intemperance

Related Idioms and Phrases

• "Bite one's tongue": To stop oneself from saying something.
  • I had to bite my tongue to show self-restraint during the argument.
• "Keep a tight rein on oneself": To maintain strict control over one's emotions or actions.
  • He kept a tight rein on himself despite the great provocation.

Noun

1. exhibiting restraint imposed on the self
   • an effective temperateness in debate