| Main Entry: | |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | force; restrain |
| Synonyms: | ban, bar, bind, bottle up, bridle, chain, check, coerce, compel, concuss, confine, constrict, cool off, cork, curb, deny, deprive, disallow, drive, hem in, hog-tie, hold back, hold down, hold in, immure, impel, imprison, incarcerate, inhibit, intern, jail, keep lid on, make, necessitate, oblige, pressure, pressurize, put half nelson on, shotgun, stifle, urge, withhold |
| Antonyms: | free, let go, release |
| Main Entry: | bind |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | obligate; restrict |
| Synonyms: | compel, confine, constrain, detain, engage, enslave, force, hamper, hinder, hogtie, indenture, lock up, necessitate, oblige, prescribe, put half nelson on, put lock on, require, restrain, restrict, yoke |
| Antonyms: | allow, free, let, permit, set free |
| Main Entry: | bridle |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | check, hold back |
| Synonyms: | constrain, control, curb, govern, inhibit, keep in check, master, moderate, repress, restrain, rule, subdue, suppress, withhold |
| Notes: | bridal relates to a bride or a marriage ceremony while a bridle is a harness |
| Antonyms: | let go, release, set free |
| Main Entry: | check |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | hinder, restrain |
| Synonyms: | arrest, baffle, bar, bit, bottleneck, bridle, checkmate, choke, circumvent, constrain, control, counteract, curb, cut short, delay, discourage, foil, frustrate, halt, harness, hold, hold back, hold down, hold in, impede, inhibit, interrupt, keep back, limit, moderate, neutralize, nip in the bud, obstruct, obviate, pause, play for time, preclude, prevent, rebuff, reduce, rein in, repress, repulse, retard, slacken pace, slow down, snub, squelch, stay, stop, suppress, tame, terminate, thwart, withhold |
| Antonyms: | aid, allow, assist, expedite, help, indulge, liberate, permit |
| Main Entry: | coerce |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | compel, press |
| Synonyms: | beset, browbeat, bulldoze, bully, concuss, constrain, cow, dragoon, drive, force, high pressure, hinder, impel, intimidate, lean on, make, make an offer they can't refuse, menace, oblige, pressurize, push, put the squeeze on, repress, restrict, shotgun, strong-arm, suppress, terrorize, threaten, twist one's arm, urge |
| Antonyms: | leave alone |
| Main Entry: | command |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | rule, have power |
| Synonyms: | administer, boss, charge, check, coach, coerce, compel, conduct, conquer, constrain, control, curb, determine, dictate, direct, dominate, domineer, exact, exercise power, force, govern, guide, have authority, head, hinder, hold office, influence, lead, manage, officiate, oppress, overbear, override, predominate, prescribe, preside over, prevail, push, regulate, reign, reign over, repress, restrain, run, stop, subdue, superintend, supervise, sway, take over, tyrannize, wield |
| Notes: | an order is being told to do something with no specific guidelines, a command is being told to do something in a specific way, and a directive is being told to do something and getting this information through channels |
| Antonyms: | follow |
| Main Entry: | compel |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | force to act |
| Synonyms: | bulldoze, coerce, concuss, constrain, crack down, dragoon, drive, enforce, exact, hustle, impel, make, make necessary, necessitate, oblige, put the arm on, put the chill on, restrain, shotgun, squeeze, throw weight around, turn on the heat, urge |
| Notes: | impel means to urge or encourage while compel means to take action as a result of pressure or coercion; impel is very similar in meaning to compel but suggests even more strongly an inner drive to do something and often a greater urgency in the desire to act |
| Antonyms: | block, check, delay, deter, hinder, impede, obstruct, stop |
| Main Entry: | confine |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | enclose, limit |
| Synonyms: | bar, bind, bound, cage, circumscribe, constrain, cool, cool down, cramp, delimit, detain, enslave, fix, hem in, hinder, hog-tie, hold back, ice*, immure, imprison, incarcerate, intern, jail, keep, put a lid on, put away, put on ice, repress, restrain, restrict, send up, shorten, shut up |
| Antonyms: | free, let go, liberate, release |
| Main Entry: | control |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | curb, hold back |
| Synonyms: | adjust, awe, bridle, check, collect, compose, constrain, contain, cool, corner, cow, limit, monopolize, quell, regulate, rein in, repress, restrain, simmer down, smother, subdue |
| Antonyms: | chance, jump in, let go, risk, rush |