1
as in helm
the place of leadership or command
after the president resigned, the vice president stepped in and took the reins of the company
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in power
the right or means to command or control others
a peaceful transfer of the reins of government has always been a hallmark of our nation
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of reins
Melanie Hicken, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2025
TelevisaUnivision has been working to bolster its balance sheet after Alegre took its corporate reins of TelevisaUnivision from Wade Davis, the former Viacom CFO who orchestrated a buyout of Univision in 2020 before merging it with Mexico’s Grupo Televisa in 2022, ceded his CEO role to him.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 23 Oct. 2025
Finch begged for Conley to be more aggressive at various points last season, but the point guard never grabbed the reins with aggression.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 21 Oct. 2025
But much to Castle's disappointment, Paramount handed over the directing reins to Roman Polanski, who sandwiched the film between 1965's Repulsion and 1976's The Tenant in his informal Apartment Trilogy.
—Steven Thrash, Entertainment Weekly, 19 Oct. 2025
Either way, the reins won’t be completely off; Joseph said Greenlaw will probably start in a part-time role.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 17 Oct. 2025
Brothers Alcide and Marc Judice built the place brick by brick in 1947, and today Marc’s youngest son Gerald has taken over the reins.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 17 Oct. 2025
The longtime men's basketball coach stepped down from his role at Auburn University last month, handing the reins to his son while becoming an ambassador for the program.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 16 Oct. 2025
Ed took over the reins of the football team following the 2017 season and the duo won a state championship the following year.
—Francesca Gariano, PEOPLE, 14 Oct. 2025
Verb
Lutnick handed the reins of the company to his 27-year-old son, and his other son also works at Cantor.
—Melanie Hicken, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2025
TelevisaUnivision has been working to bolster its balance sheet after Alegre took its corporate reins of TelevisaUnivision from Wade Davis, the former Viacom CFO who orchestrated a buyout of Univision in 2020 before merging it with Mexico’s Grupo Televisa in 2022, ceded his CEO role to him.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 23 Oct. 2025
Finch begged for Conley to be more aggressive at various points last season, but the point guard never grabbed the reins with aggression.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 21 Oct. 2025
But much to Castle's disappointment, Paramount handed over the directing reins to Roman Polanski, who sandwiched the film between 1965's Repulsion and 1976's The Tenant in his informal Apartment Trilogy.
—Steven Thrash, Entertainment Weekly, 19 Oct. 2025
Either way, the reins won’t be completely off; Joseph said Greenlaw will probably start in a part-time role.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 17 Oct. 2025
Brothers Alcide and Marc Judice built the place brick by brick in 1947, and today Marc’s youngest son Gerald has taken over the reins.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 17 Oct. 2025
The longtime men's basketball coach stepped down from his role at Auburn University last month, handing the reins to his son while becoming an ambassador for the program.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 16 Oct. 2025
Ed took over the reins of the football team following the 2017 season and the duo won a state championship the following year.
—Francesca Gariano, PEOPLE, 14 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reins
Noun
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Burton spent most of her career — 26 years — at McQueen, ultimately taking the creative helm of the house, somewhat reluctantly, in the wake of the designer’s suicide in 2010.—
Miles Socha,
Footwear News,
28 Oct. 2025
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Under Seminci director José Luis Cienfuegos, who took over the helm in 2023, the festival’s industrial strategy has become sharper and more collaborative.—
Emiliano De Pablos,
Variety,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Despite the star power in the stands, the Dodgers lost 6-1, meaning the Blue Jays tied the series.—
Ingrid Vasquez,
PEOPLE,
29 Oct. 2025
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Both outcomes might also blunt the risk of further great-power escalation in this deeply chaotic geopolitical time.—
Mira Rapp-Hooper,
Foreign Affairs,
29 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Walls and floors are white, while flashes of color and texture appear in the form of chubby bouclé sofas and chairs or swirling rugs covered in Burberry’s signature shade of deep blue.—
Samantha Conti,
Footwear News,
28 Oct. 2025
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Co-chairs of the 2025 event include The Daily Beast’s chief content and creative officer Joanna Coles and Interpublic Group’s executive vp, chief client officer and chief business officer Jacki Kelley.—
Chris Gardner,
HollywoodReporter,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Video shows the moment an officer in camouflage and tactical gear approaches an individual, after which another officer tackles the person, restrains them with plastic handcuffs, and leads them away.—
Hanna Park,
CNN Money,
2 Oct. 2025
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An 1878 law known as the Posse Comitatus Act generally restrains the use of the military for such purposes.—
Margaret Talbot,
New Yorker,
17 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Todd hobbles into each frame like a joyless ghoul, hating the cameras and hating his wife for bringing them into his world.—
Tom Smyth,
Vulture,
22 Oct. 2025
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In the video, an elderly man — played by Hiep Tran Nghia — gingerly hobbles around a stone town before an apocalypse of sorts strikes.—
Michael Saponara,
Billboard,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
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But this unit is two plays — or better yet, two injuries — from being a disaster that handcuffs Miami’s offense, like last year’s unit did, after Grier laughed at the media for its concern about fragile state of the 2024 O-line.—
Omar Kelly
August 19,
Miami Herald,
19 Aug. 2025
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At the crash site, some of the rescuers find Morrow, who holds them at gunpoint and handcuffs them together in the lab.—
Dave Nemetz,
TVLine,
12 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The nature of my work tethers me to London.—
Rohan Banerjee,
Time,
23 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Texas Roadhouse, which also operates casual dining chains Bubba’s 33 and Jaggers, is expected to report third-quarter results at the end of October.—
Natasha Abellard,
CNBC,
3 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Reins.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reins. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
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