curb
to restrain or keep in check an impulse, tendency, or activity
Word origin: From Old French courbe, a curved bit, via Latin curvus, bent.
Curb in a sentence
Here are example sentences showing curb in a sentence.
The new regulations were designed to curb excessive spending by government agencies.
The central bank raised interest rates in an effort to curb runaway inflation.
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Verbal · Sentence Equivalence
Although she had every reason to gloat after the verdict, the attorney remained blank, accepting the win without a hint of boastfulness.
Using “curb” well
As a verb, curb means to hold something in check and pairs with restrain and suppress. The image is of a curb bit used to control a horse, which underlies the figurative sense.
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misty, dim, or dark, and therefore obscure
Questions about “curb”
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