Synonyms and antonyms of To limit or control something or someone in British Thesaurus

draw a line in the sand ()

to set a limit beyond which someone cannot go without suffering serious consequences

limit (verb)

to prevent a number, amount, or effect from increasing past a particular point

control (verb)

to keep something at the correct level

keep down ()

to control something and prevent it from increasing in size or number

determine (verb)

to control what something will be

restrict (verb)

to keep something within strict limits

curb (verb)

to control or limit something that is harmful

confine (verb)

formal to keep an activity within particular limits

cure (verb)

to control or get rid of a bad habit, feeling, or attitude

contain (verb)

to keep something within limits

attach a condition (to something) ()

to allow something only if someone agrees to a condition

cap (verb)

to set a limit on the amount of money that someone can spend or charge

circumscribe (verb)

to limit something such as power, rights, or opportunities

condition (verb)

formal to control or influence something

confine (verb)

if something is confined to one area or group of people, it happens only in that area or affects only that group of people

conquer (verb)

to gain control of a situation or emotion by making a great physical or mental effort

constrict (verb)

formal to limit what someone is able or allowed to do

curtail (verb)

formal to reduce or limit something, especially something good

delimit (verb)

formal to set the limits of something

delineate (verb)

formal to decide or show the exact limits of something

demarcate (verb)

formal to decide the limits of something, especially the borders of an area

dominate (verb)

to control something or someone, often in a negative way, because you have more power or influence

freeze (verb)

economics to say officially that the rate or level of something must stay the same and not increase

govern (verb)

to control the way that things happen

handle (verb)

to control an animal or a vehicle using your hands

hedge with ()

to make special conditions for something so that you do not have to follow the usual rules

keep (verb)

to control something so that it stays within a limit

keep (verb)

to stay within a limit

keep a tight grip/rein/hold on something ()

to control something in a very strict way

keep/hold someone/something in check ()

to control someone or something that might cause damage or harm

keep/put a lid on something ()

to keep something strongly under control

keep to ()

to prevent an amount or number from passing a limit

localise ()

a British spelling of localize

localize (verb)

formal to limit the size of an area that something affects and to prevent it from spreading further

marginalise ()

a British spelling of marginalize

marginalize (verb)

to prevent someone from having power or influence

mark off ()

to mark the limits of an area using a line, fence, rope etc

overregulate (verb)

to make too many laws and rules that control an activity, especially a type of business or industry

peg out ()

to mark a piece of land with metal or wooden pegs

place (verb)

if you place limits, responsibilities, pressures etc on someone, you make them experience them

police (verb)

to check that organizations or people behave correctly

provide (verb)

legal to contain statements or plans that set conditions for dealing with a particular issue

ration (verb)

to control the supply of something such as food so that people are allowed only a fixed amount

regulate (verb)

to control an activity, process, or industry officially by using rules

regulate (verb)

to control something so that it produces the results that you want

regulate (verb)

to control the way your body works

rein in ()

to limit or control something that has developed too much or has continued for too long

relax your grip/hold ()

to control something less strictly

release (verb)

formal to allow someone not to have to do something

seize (verb)

to gain control in a situation

set (verb)

to establish a rule, standard, limit etc that people must follow

stem (verb)

to stop something from spreading or increasing, especially something bad

stem the tide (of something) ()

to stop something from increasing or continuing

stipulate (verb)

formal to say what is allowed or what is necessary

tame (verb)

to bring something under control

tie (verb)

if something ties you to a particular place or situation, you cannot leave it

tighten (verb)

to make a set of rules stricter or harder to avoid

tighten up ()

to be stricter or more serious about something such as a policy or a rule

tighten your grip on something ()

to begin to control someone or something more strictly