1
as in hampered
to create difficulty for the work or activity of
the only thing holding them back from joining the swim team is lack of transportation
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in stifled
to refrain from openly showing or uttering
held back her tears until she was alone
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of held back
Other candidates had secured a plethora of media interviews, but Warsh held back.
—
Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 30 Jan. 2026
On the Senate side, the Appropriations Committee held back three of 32 bills.
—Kate Wolffe, Sacbee.com, 23 Jan. 2026
The series starring Morris Chestnut was initially held back for another midseason run on Sundays before being summoned to the fall schedule to fill in for the delayed CIA, landing behind FBI on Mondays.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 22 Jan. 2026
This take is so dumb that it was held back in the second grade three times.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 21 Jan. 2026
Another clip showed Brown jawing toward Sirianni and being held back by his teammates.
—Tom Ignudo, CBS News, 12 Jan. 2026
And to me, that was the most significant question because that’s what held back the two quarterbacks who came before him, Mitch Trubisky and Justin Fields.
—Jon Greenberg, New York Times, 10 Jan. 2026
Maggie certainly never held back.
—Maggie Fremont, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Nov. 2025
That doesn’t include those held back for opponents’ fans, student overflow and other promotions that could be released for sale.
—Kirk Kenney, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Nov. 2025
Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 30 Jan. 2026
On the Senate side, the Appropriations Committee held back three of 32 bills.
—Kate Wolffe, Sacbee.com, 23 Jan. 2026
The series starring Morris Chestnut was initially held back for another midseason run on Sundays before being summoned to the fall schedule to fill in for the delayed CIA, landing behind FBI on Mondays.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 22 Jan. 2026
This take is so dumb that it was held back in the second grade three times.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 21 Jan. 2026
Another clip showed Brown jawing toward Sirianni and being held back by his teammates.
—Tom Ignudo, CBS News, 12 Jan. 2026
And to me, that was the most significant question because that’s what held back the two quarterbacks who came before him, Mitch Trubisky and Justin Fields.
—Jon Greenberg, New York Times, 10 Jan. 2026
Maggie certainly never held back.
—Maggie Fremont, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Nov. 2025
That doesn’t include those held back for opponents’ fans, student overflow and other promotions that could be released for sale.
—Kirk Kenney, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for held back
Verb
-
With Frimpong sidelined, Conor Bradley out for the rest of the season with a knee injury and Joe Gomez still hampered by a hip problem, Slot has a major headache at right-back.—
James Pearce,
New York Times,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Medical timeout Alcaraz was as close as two points from victory in the third set but was hampered by pain in his upper right leg and his medical timeout became contentious.—
John Pye,
Baltimore Sun,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Arsenal have recently looked stifled in a way that the creative department of a title-challenging team, high on its own output, should not.—
Oliver Kay,
New York Times,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Minnesota got power play goals from Kirill Kaprizov and Joel Eriksson Ek and a shorthanded goal from Matt Boldy, but was stifled defensively much of the night, most notably at even strength.—
Jess Myers,
Twin Cities,
25 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Concepcion dealt with a speech impediment that hindered his public speaking.—
Tony Catalina,
Austin American Statesman,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Trump’s ability to increase across-the-board tariffs on goods from South Korea or other countries could be hindered by the outcome of a landmark tariff case currently before the Supreme Court.—
Elisabeth Buchwald,
CNN Money,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
At home, the Guard’s Basij volunteer arm brutally suppressed recent nationwide protests, establishing itself as the theocracy’s primary tool for squashing dissent.—
Jon Gambrell,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Jan. 2026
-
This led organically to feelings of love for one’s Black nannies and friendship with the children of your Black live-in maids, but this warmth had to be suppressed.—
Eve Fairbanks,
The Dial,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
As a result, the water vapor in that impeded breath condenses on the surface of your immediately-adjacent prescription glasses, sunglasses or ski goggles.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
5 Jan. 2026
-
Adding palbociclib, however, blocked this adaptation and impeded the cancer cells’ ability to survive.—
Khloe Quill,
FOXNews.com,
31 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
The story follows a scuba diver in search of his deceased father’s remains who gets swallowed by an 80-foot, 60-ton sperm whale and has only one hour to escape before his oxygen runs out.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
26 Jan. 2026
-
With tech earnings season kicking into high gear next week, Wall Street will start to get a clearer picture of where particular companies stand in adopting AI or getting swallowed by it.—
Seema Mody,
CNBC,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
During our first visit, Maryam, embarrassed by her English, refused to ask the salesperson a question.—
Jennifer Obel,
Denver Post,
12 Jan. 2026
-
We’re all supposed to be embarrassed by prizes or feel above them or apart from them.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
In a July 29 post to the social media platform, Minniear included snaps of himself and some picturesque locations, as well as a shot of Goulding lying nude in bed with her arm, side and thigh visible but face mostly obstructed.—
Hannah Sacks,
PEOPLE,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Nicole Ramey, a Plainfield resident whose son is a junior at Avon High School, said the bus stops around her home were obstructed.—
Heather Bushman,
IndyStar,
28 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Held back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/held%20back. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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