Definitions
- Referring to the act of voluntarily refraining from doing something, especially from indulging in a particular behavior or activity. - Talking about avoiding or not participating in a particular action or behavior. - Describing the act of holding back or resisting a temptation or desire.
- Describing the act of holding back or preventing someone or something from doing something. - Referring to the act of controlling or limiting one's own behavior or emotions. - Talking about the act of restricting or confining someone or something physically.
List of Similarities
- 1Both involve controlling one's actions or behavior.
- 2Both can be used to prevent oneself or others from doing something.
- 3Both can be used in a figurative or literal sense.
- 4Both can be used to describe self-control or discipline.
What is the difference?
- 1Focus: Abstain emphasizes avoiding or refraining from a particular behavior or activity, while restrain focuses on holding back or preventing oneself or others from doing something.
- 2Action: Abstain is often used to describe not doing something, while restrain is used to describe actively preventing or controlling something.
- 3Intensity: Restrain implies a stronger force or effort to control or limit something than abstain.
- 4Scope: Restrain can be used to describe physical confinement or restriction, while abstain is limited to voluntary self-restraint.
- 5Connotation: Abstain has a more positive connotation, implying self-discipline and willpower, while restrain can have a negative connotation, implying force or coercion.
Remember this!
Abstain and restrain are both verbs that describe controlling one's actions or behavior. However, the difference between them lies in their focus and intensity. Abstain emphasizes voluntary self-restraint and avoiding a particular behavior or activity, while restrain implies a stronger force or effort to control or limit something, whether it be oneself or others.
