Refrain and Restrain :



“Restrain” is a transitive verb: it needs an object. Although “refrain” was once a synonym for “restrain” it is now an intransitive verb: it should not have an object.


Here are examples of correct modern usage: “When I pass the doughnut shop I have to restrain myself” (“myself” is the object).


“When I feel like throwing something at my boss, I usually refrain from doing so.”


You can’t refrain yourself or anyone else.