Synonyms for refrain
rɪˈfreɪnre·frain

English Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:4.0 / 2 votes

1. refrain

   Strains of music may gradually or suddenly cease. A man quits work on the instant; he may discontinue a practise gradually; he quits suddenly and completely; he stops short in what he may or may not resume; he pauses in what he will probably resume. What intermits or is intermitted returns again, as a fever that intermits. Compare ABANDON; DIE; END; REST.

   Synonyms:
   abstain, bring to an end, cease, come to an end, conclude, desist, discontinue, end, end, finish, give over, intermit, leave off, pause, quit, stop, terminate

   Antonyms:
   begin, commence, enter upon, inaugurate, initiate, institute, originate, set about, set going, set in operation, set on foot, start

   Preposition:
   Cease from anger.

Complete Dictionary of Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:2.5 / 2 votes

1. refrain

   Synonyms:
   forbear, hold, abstain, keep, restrain, withhold, desist from

   Antonyms:
   indulge, venture, continue, persist

Princeton's WordNetRate these synonyms:4.3 / 4 votes

1. refrain, chorusverb

   the part of a song where a soloist is joined by a group of singers

   Synonyms:
   chorus line, chorus

   Antonyms:
   move, act

2. refrain, forbearverb

   resist doing something

   "He refrained from hitting him back"; "she could not forbear weeping"

   Synonyms:
   desist, forbear, hold back, abstain

   Antonyms:
   move, act

3. abstain, refrain, desistverb

   choose not to consume

   "I abstain from alcohol"

   Synonyms:
   desist, forbear, abstain

   Antonyms:
   act, move

Dictionary of English SynonymesRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. refrainverb

   Synonyms:
   restrain, withhold, keep back

2. refrainverb

   Synonyms:
   abstain, forbear, hold one's self back, deny one's self, stay one's hand, keep one's self from indulgence

3. refrainnoun

   Synonyms:
   burden (of a song)

Synonyms, Antonyms & Associated WordsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. refrainverb

   Synonyms:
   restrain, curb, check, forbear, abstain, desist

PPDB, the paraphrase databaseRate these paraphrases:2.0 / 1 vote

1. List of paraphrases for "refrain":

   abstain, chorus, abstaining, avoid, desist

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How to use refrain in a sentence?

1. Jamal Benomar:

   I urge all sides at this time of rising tensions and rhetoric to de-escalate and exercise maximum restraint, and refrain from provocation.

2. White House:

   The refrain that we hear frequently from Republicans is that the federal government merely enforce the law that's on the books, if that isn't just them bluffing or trying to distract from the actual issue, them they should surely support additional resources being dedicated to enforcing that law that is already on the books.

3. Yoshihide Suga:

   Negotiations are still under way so I'd like to refrain from commenting, but I believe that won't be the case.

4. Lane Olinghouse:

   To err is human to refrain from laughing, humane.

5. Vladimir Putin:

   We call on all the countries involved in regional issues to refrain from military rhetoric and strive for calm and constructive dialogue. We see, as a common task, the early resumption of six-party talks.