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, refrain, chorus

   Antonyms:
   move, act

2. refrain, forbearverb

   resist doing something

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

   Synonyms:
   desist, forbear, refrain, hold back, abstain

   Antonyms:
   move, act

3. abstain, refrain, desistverb

   choose not to consume

   "I abstain from alcohol"

   Synonyms:
   desist, forbear, refrain, 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

How to pronounce refrain ?

How to say refrain in sign language?

Words popularity by usage frequency

How to use refrain in a sentence?

1. Alex Garza:

   The majority of them express some regret for not being vaccinated, that’s a pretty common refrain that we’re hearing from patients with COVID.

2. The US:

   We call on( North Korea) to refrain from provocative, destabilizing actions and rhetoric, and to make the strategic choice to fulfill North Korea international obligations and commitments and return to serious talks, north Korea's unlawful weapons programs represent a clear, grave threat to The US national security.

3. The State Department:

   The United States firmly opposes coercion and intimidation by any claimant to assert its territorial or maritime claims, china should cease its bullying behavior and refrain from engaging in this type of provocative and destabilizing activity.

4. Andreas Mundt:

   The only choice the user has is either to accept the comprehensive combination of data or to refrain from using the social network, in such a difficult situation the user's choice can not be referred to as voluntary consent.

5. Alexander Kinshchak:

   I am not confident than an offensive on Aleppo will take place in the foreseeable future, as for Raqqa, in this case I would also like to refrain from any certain forecasts regarding its liberation.