| Main Entry: | |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | restraining device; check |
| Synonyms: | barrier, border, brake, bridle, chain, control, deterrent, edge, harness, hindrance, ledge, limitation, lip, rein, restrainer, restraint, restriction, rim |
| Antonyms: | encouragement, opening |
| Main Entry: | abstain |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | hold back from doing |
| Synonyms: | abjure, abnegate, avoid, cease, constrain, curb, decline, deny oneself, do without, eschew, evade, fast, fence-sit, forbear, forgo, give the go by, give up, go on the wagon, keep from, pass, pass up, quit, refrain, refuse, renounce, shun, sit on one's hands, sit on the fence, sit out, spurn, starve, stop, take the cure, take the pledge, withhold |
| Antonyms: | indulge, use |
| Main Entry: | adjourn |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | stop a proceeding |
| Synonyms: | curb, defer, delay, discontinue, hold off, hold over, hold up, postpone, prorogue, put off, recess, restrain, shelve, stay, suspend |
| Antonyms: | begin, convene, convoke, encourage, further, keep on, open, rally, stimulate, urge |
| Main Entry: | bottle up |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | hold in check |
| Synonyms: | box up, bring to naught, check, collar, contain, coop up, cork, corner, cover up, cramp, curb, enclose, entrap, hold back, hold down, hold in, keep back, keep feeling inside oneself, keep secret, repress, restrain, restrict, shut in, suppress, trap |
| Antonyms: | confide, reveal, tell |
| Main Entry: | brake |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | stopping device; check |
| Synonyms: | anchor, binders, cinchers, constraint, control, curb, damper, deterrent, discouragement, hamper, hindrance, hurdle, obstacle, rein, restraint, retarding device |
| Notes: | to brake is to slow or stop while break is to cause to separate into pieces suddenly or violently, smash or crack |
| Antonyms: | accelerator |
| Main Entry: | bridle |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | restraining device |
| Synonyms: | check, control, curb, deterrent, hackamore, halter, headstall, leash, rein, restraint, trammels |
| Notes: | bridal relates to a bride or a marriage ceremony while a bridle is a harness |
| 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: | chasten |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | correct, humiliate |
| Synonyms: | abase, admonish, afflict, berate, call down, castigate, chastise, chide, cow, curb, discipline, exprobate, fulminate against, have on the carpet, humble, objurgate, penalize, punish, rake over the coals, rebuke, reprehend, repress, reprimand, reproach, reprove, restrain, scold, scourge, soften, subdue, take to task, tame, tongue-lash, try, upbraid |
| Notes: | chasten means to correct by punishment, to take to task - to restrain or subdue; chastise means to punish, as by beating or to criticize severely |
| Antonyms: | aid, animate, assist, boost, cheer, comfort, embolden, encourage, help, honor, uplift |
| Main Entry: | check |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | restraint, hindrance |
| Synonyms: | blow, constraint, control, curb, damper, disappointment, frustration, grunt, harness, holdup, impediment, inhibition, limitation, obstruction, rebuff, rejection, restrainer, reversal, reverse, setback, stoppage, trouble |
| Antonyms: | aid, allowance, assistance, help, indulgence, liberation, permission |