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Ambition vs Restraint - What's the difference?

ambition | restraint |

In countable terms the difference between ambition and restraint

is that ambition is an object of an ardent desire while restraint is something that restrains, ties, fastens or secures.

In uncountable terms the difference between ambition and restraint

is that ambition is a personal quality similar to motivation, not necessarily tied to a single goal while restraint is control or caution; reserve.

As nouns the difference between ambition and restraint

is that ambition is eager or inordinate desire for some object that confers distinction, as preferment, honor, superiority, political power, or literary fame; desire to distinguish one's self from other people while restraint is something that restrains, ties, fastens or secures.

As a verb ambition

is to seek after ambitiously or eagerly; to covet.

ambition

English

Noun

(en-noun)
  • (uncountable, countable) Eager or inordinate desire for some object that confers distinction, as preferment, honor, superiority, political power, or literary fame; desire to distinguish one's self from other people.
  • My son, John, wants to be a firefighter very much. He has a lot of ambition .
  • * Burke
  • the pitiful ambition of possessing five or six thousand more acres
  • (countable) An object of an ardent desire.
  • My ambition is to own a helicopter.
  • A desire, as in (sense 1), for another person to achieve these things.
  • (uncountable) A personal quality similar to motivation, not necessarily tied to a single goal.
  • (obsolete) The act of going about to solicit or obtain an office, or any other object of desire; canvassing.
  • * Milton
  • [I] used no ambition to commend my deeds.

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To seek after ambitiously or eagerly; to covet.
  • Pausanias, ambitioning the sovereignty of Greece, bargains with Xerxes for his daughter in marriage. — Trumbull.

    restraint

    Noun

  • (countable) something that restrains, ties, fastens or secures
  • Make sure all the restraints are tight.
  • (uncountable) control or caution; reserve
  • Try to exercise restraint when talking to your boss.
  • * November 2 2014 , Daniel Taylor, " Sergio Agüero strike wins derby for Manchester City against 10-man United," guardian.co.uk
  • City will feel nonplussed when they review the tape and Pellegrini had to summon all his restraint in the post-match interviews.