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
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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
Bocelli joins a list of others in the opera and ballet space, including Misty Copeland, who have not held back in criticizing Chalamet for his commentary.
—
Carly Thomas, HollywoodReporter, 12 Mar. 2026
Brown then charged at Ford and actively fought being held back by his teammates and Celtics security.
—Jared Weiss, New York Times, 11 Mar. 2026
Over several days of testing the MacBook Neo, I’ve rarely been held back by its transplanted iPhone brain.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 10 Mar. 2026
While the skirmish was going on, Tre White had to be held back by KU assistant Tony Bland, and White did not seem pleased as the two exchanged some words.
—Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 4 Mar. 2026
Instead, Hera held back Herakles’s birth so his cousin, now born first, would inherit the crown instead.
—Literary Hub, 27 Feb. 2026
China has held back from providing enough military support to guarantee Russia’s victory.
—Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 24 Feb. 2026
Students with a disability, English learners and those who have been held back twice already would be exempt from third-grade retention.
—Nuria Martinez-Keel, Oklahoma Voice, 20 Feb. 2026
Duaa was also held back for questioning.
—Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 19 Feb. 2026
Carly Thomas, HollywoodReporter, 12 Mar. 2026
Brown then charged at Ford and actively fought being held back by his teammates and Celtics security.
—Jared Weiss, New York Times, 11 Mar. 2026
Over several days of testing the MacBook Neo, I’ve rarely been held back by its transplanted iPhone brain.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 10 Mar. 2026
While the skirmish was going on, Tre White had to be held back by KU assistant Tony Bland, and White did not seem pleased as the two exchanged some words.
—Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 4 Mar. 2026
Instead, Hera held back Herakles’s birth so his cousin, now born first, would inherit the crown instead.
—Literary Hub, 27 Feb. 2026
China has held back from providing enough military support to guarantee Russia’s victory.
—Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 24 Feb. 2026
Students with a disability, English learners and those who have been held back twice already would be exempt from third-grade retention.
—Nuria Martinez-Keel, Oklahoma Voice, 20 Feb. 2026
Duaa was also held back for questioning.
—Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 19 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for held back
Verb
-
But he has been hampered by injuries the past two seasons, missing three games in 2024 and nine last season because of a hamstring injury and broken collarbone.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
12 Mar. 2026
-
The latest firings only added to concerns inside the Justice Department and FBI that counterterrorism and intelligence investigations could become hampered by a loss of national security experts, multiple sources familiar with the matter said.—
CNN.com Wire Service,
Mercury News,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The Texans were stifled all night, turning the ball over 26 times.—
American-Statesman staff,
Austin American Statesman,
7 Mar. 2026
-
But the surging inflation, lack of a large base of consumers with high disposable incomes, and low broadband access that have challenged other African streaming services have stifled Showmax’s ambitions.—
Alexander Onukwue,
semafor.com,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
That all but hindered their ability to disguise.—
Joseph Hoyt,
Dallas Morning News,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Lackluster support from the mayor’s office for law enforcement has hindered recruitment and retention.—
Juan Rangel,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The other theme was how much player movement has been suppressed.—
Shayna Goldman,
New York Times,
10 Mar. 2026
-
The group also said the memorial had suppressed other voices that criticized Israel, including the Israeli philosopher Omri Boehm, who was slated to give a commemoration speech at Buchenwald last year.—
Shira Li Bartov,
Sun Sentinel,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
That, De Bremaeker said, impeded efforts to submit emergency court filings to prevent their removal from the country without due process.—
Anissa Rivera,
Daily News,
6 Mar. 2026
-
But the totality of the circumstances greatly impeded my ability to write Ballot.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Like fire swallowed setting everything alight inside.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Phillipsburg declared a state of emergency last month when a sinkhole swallowed a dump truck.—
Nick Caloway,
CBS News,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Would the girl with the bright smile have been embarrassed by her love Stitch as a teen?—
Gillian Stawiszynski,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
8 Mar. 2026
-
The team embarrassed Canada, 5-0, in the preliminary round, and swept the North American neighbor in four straight Olympic tune-ups.—
Sean Gregory,
Time,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
But a few factors complicate his path to the majors, perhaps most notably being obstructed by Bryce Harper at first base.—
Charlotte Varnes,
New York Times,
6 Mar. 2026
-
The owner, listed on the claim as Genesis GSA Strategic One LLC, county officials interfered with and obstructed the federal government's authority to enforce immigration law and open detention sites.—
Adam Thompson,
CBS News,
5 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Held back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/held%20back. Accessed 15 Mar. 2026.
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