Need another word for Refrained? Use these synonyms of Refrained from our thesaurus to say it differently.
Synonyms & Similar Words
abstained
avoided
ceased
stopped
halted
desisted
forbore
withheld
restrained
controlled
curbed
checked
suppressed
contained
moderated
limited
restricted
prevented
prohibited
banned
blocked
hindered
impeded
delayed
postponed
suspended
discontinued
terminated
quit
renounced
relinquished
abandoned
forewent
forsaken
denied
rejected
spurned
refused
declined
Meaning of Refrained
The primary meaning of the word "Refrained" is to stop oneself from doing something.
Definitions
- Refrained is defined by Oxford Languages as the past tense of refrain, meaning to stop oneself from doing something, especially in order to avoid doing something that you want to do or that might be unpleasant.
- * It can also mean to hold back or restrain a feeling, reaction, or action.
Etymology of Refrained
The word "Refrained" originates from the Old French word "refrener," which means "to hold back" or "to restrain."
This Old French term is derived from the Latin words "re" (meaning "again" or "anew") and "frangere" (meaning "to break"), and it has been used in the English language since the 14th century to convey the idea of holding back or restraining something.
Example Uses
- She refrained from commenting on the sensitive issue.
- * He refrained from eating sweets to lose weight.
- * They refrained from laughing at the joke to avoid offending others.