WITHHOLDING Synonyms: 97 Similar and Opposite Words

withholding

verb

present participle of withhold

as in denying

to be unwilling to grant must withhold official approval until all the proper forms have been submitted

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in keeping

to continue to have in one's possession or power withhold some money for your own expenses

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of withholding Busfield’s attorneys had accused prosecutors in Bernalillo County, New Mexico, of pursuing the case despite a lack of evidence and withholding witness testimony from grand jurors, according to the AP. — Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 16 Oct. 2026 Megan James, 33, who at the time was Siira’s fellow caregiver, was also arrested and charged with her murder and related felonies, the Elmore County Sheriff’s Office first reported in June 2024 while withholding Siira’s name as the victim. — Idaho Statesman, 9 Oct. 2026 The consignment came at a dire time for the gallery, which has faced multiple lawsuits in recent years, including one filed by artist Jeffrey Gibson, alleging the gallery was withholding hundreds of thousands of dollars in sales proceeds. — News Desk, Artforum, 2 Oct. 2026 The Trib is withholding Nick’s full name to avoid marring his reputation in the eyes of future employers or others who might run a search on him. — Kate Payne, Miami Herald, 30 Sep. 2026 The goal is not to manufacture dependency by withholding information people need to do their jobs; that would simply create bureaucracy. — Samuel Rodrigues, Forbes.com, 29 Sep. 2026 The federal government had also been squeezing the region economically, by withholding funds needed to pay Tigray’s civil servants and limiting access to banks and fuel, according to the TPLF. — Alemayehu Fentaw Weldemariam, The Conversation, 29 Sep. 2026 Italian magistrates accused Egyptian authorities of withholding key information requested through international legal channels, an allegation Cairo rejected. — ABC News, 28 Sep. 2026 Oceanside is withholding the exact location where the fossils were found due to public safety concerns and to preserve the site’s integrity. — Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 24 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for withholding

Verb

Attorneys for two of them have gotten back to us, denying the allegations.

— Mahsa Saeidi, CBS News, 13 Oct. 2026
But there’s no denying the dynasty-chasing Dodgers are in trouble after the Brewers won games started by Los Angeles’ dynamic duo of Tarik Skubal and Yamamoto.

— Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of denying

Verb

Fire officials were most concerned with keeping the blaze north of Encinal Canyon Road, one of the few natural firebreaks in the immediate area.

— Tom Tapp, Deadline, 16 Oct. 2026
These functions extend the partnership beyond keeping a drone connected to its operator.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of keeping

Verb

The 100% cotton set, made in Italy, is slightly softer than your typical percale, while retaining the crisp, cool feel that makes the material a perennial favorite.

— Kate McGregor, Architectural Digest, 16 Oct. 2026
Paraphrasing typically restates the original information in more relevant language while retaining key ideas.

— Ethan Stone, Kansas City Star, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of retaining

Verb

This may involve rejecting a command, removing write access, isolating the AI, transferring control back to the operator or moving equipment into a safe state.

— Gregory Shahnovsky, Forbes.com, 13 Oct. 2026
The sense was that the people who were rejecting the Keynesian model were throwing out the baby with the bathwater.

— Greg Rosalsky, NPR, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of rejecting

Verb

Recent polls have shown Jackson holding only a narrow lead over Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms.

— DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE STAFF FROM WIRE REPORTS, Arkansas Online, 17 Oct. 2026
France is holding its presidential elections in April 2027, and the far-right and far-left are leading the opinion polls.

— Nicholas Bequelin, Time, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of holding

Verb

Women naturally store less creatine than men, and during perimenopause and menopause, declining estrogen can take a toll on both muscle health and mental clarity.

— Maggie Ryan, Flow Space, 15 Oct. 2026
The result has been sturdy economic growth, even as lower-income and even middle-income households have continued to struggle under stubborn inflation and declining earnings.

— Rob Wile, NBC news, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of declining

Verb

The Bruins forced seven turnovers and stopped Oregon’s late two-point try at the one-yard line, preserving a signature victory that strengthened UCLA’s playoff case.

— Elias Esquivel, Los Angeles Times, 11 Oct. 2026
Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc has introduced rules aimed at limiting disruptive photography and preserving privacy at the property.

— Kelly McGreal, FOXNews.com, 11 Oct. 2026