1
as in postponed
to assign to a later time
held up mail delivery until we had a permanent address
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in stopped
to bring (something) to a standstill
traffic was held up for miles by the accident
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in hampered
to create difficulty for the work or activity of
if lack of transportation is the only thing holding you up, I can give you a ride
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in survived
to continue to operate or to meet one's needs
the air conditioner held up this year, but it's not going to make it through another summer
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in remained
to remain indefinitely in existence or in the same state
the storm's hurricane-force winds did not hold up once it hit the coast
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in flew
to withstand scrutiny and gain acceptance or approval
an argument that won't hold up in court
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of held up
The Milwaukee Fire Department responded to the scene as the infant was lowered to safety in a car seat carrier held up by what appeared to be a tow strap, local ABC affiliate WXOW reported.
—
Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 4 Feb. 2026
Jr, and Grace Gummer’s Caroline Kennedy, Watts created a multi-texture visual effect with an off-the-shoulder black gown that appeared to be held up by an attached silver chainmail bib.
—Lara Walsh, InStyle, 4 Feb. 2026
In all, the committee approved most of what had been held up, roughly $14 million, for the Corrections Department.
—Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 29 Jan. 2026
In her State of the County speech at Florida Memorial University, a historically Black college, the mayor held up Miami-Dade as an example of a welcoming community.
—Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 29 Jan. 2026
Specifically, on average, silky sharks spent only about 47 percent of their time inside the Galápagos Marine Reserve, an area often held up as a global gold standard for marine protection.
—Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
The case was held up by top Department of Homeland Security officials as an example of the violence and threats immigration agents were facing from gang members and even international drug cartels.
—Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 21 Jan. 2026
It’s been everywhere with her and has held up impressively well, despite constant use.
—Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 16 Jan. 2026
Indeed, their body language and working relationship belies nothing of the boorish, antagonistic dynamic between Governor Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio, whose enmity risked lives (as when Cuomo held up a mass Covid vaccine site in New York due to his beef with de Blasio).
—Literary Hub, 15 Jan. 2026
Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 4 Feb. 2026
Jr, and Grace Gummer’s Caroline Kennedy, Watts created a multi-texture visual effect with an off-the-shoulder black gown that appeared to be held up by an attached silver chainmail bib.
—Lara Walsh, InStyle, 4 Feb. 2026
In all, the committee approved most of what had been held up, roughly $14 million, for the Corrections Department.
—Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 29 Jan. 2026
In her State of the County speech at Florida Memorial University, a historically Black college, the mayor held up Miami-Dade as an example of a welcoming community.
—Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 29 Jan. 2026
Specifically, on average, silky sharks spent only about 47 percent of their time inside the Galápagos Marine Reserve, an area often held up as a global gold standard for marine protection.
—Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
The case was held up by top Department of Homeland Security officials as an example of the violence and threats immigration agents were facing from gang members and even international drug cartels.
—Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 21 Jan. 2026
It’s been everywhere with her and has held up impressively well, despite constant use.
—Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 16 Jan. 2026
Indeed, their body language and working relationship belies nothing of the boorish, antagonistic dynamic between Governor Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio, whose enmity risked lives (as when Cuomo held up a mass Covid vaccine site in New York due to his beef with de Blasio).
—Literary Hub, 15 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for held up
Verb
-
Staff move fences as the Women's Snowboard Slopestyle Final is postponed due to heavy snow in Livigno.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Yalanda Ward's trial was postponed until May 6, 2026, according to court records.—
JT Moodee Lockman,
CBS News,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
That has not stopped him from being a frequent guest on cable and network television.—
Max Rego,
The Hill,
16 Feb. 2026
-
Only recently had many countries stopped treating solo female travelers as a problem to be managed, no longer refusing them hotel rooms when traveling without a man, or denying them credit cards to pay for it.—
Lilit Marcus,
CNN Money,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Democratic lawmakers condemn Maxwell’s plea Democrats in the House Oversight Committee denounced Maxwell’s request for a presidential pardon and suggested that Trump’s refusal to rule out such a possibility has hampered the committee’s inquiry.—
Miranda Jeyaretnam,
Time,
10 Feb. 2026
-
As has been the case many a time during the season, giveaways hampered Golden State for much of the night.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
He is also survived by a sixth child, Ashley.—
John Blake,
CNN Money,
17 Feb. 2026
-
He is survived by two sons, David and Eric, and three grandchildren.—
KiMi Robinson,
USA Today,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Colin Gray has remained behind bars since his arrest a day after the shooting.—
Eric Levenson,
CNN Money,
16 Feb. 2026
-
Several lanes of the highway remained closed Saturday afternoon while authorities cleared the scene.—
Colleen Cronin,
Boston Herald,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The first hearing for Campillo’s new proposal was delayed from November because the Rules Committee fell short of a quorum before the proposal could be debated.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Federal agencies halted overdose-surveillance networks, delayed youth smoking data, scaled back food-safety pathogen monitoring and purged transgender health information from websites.—
Mike Stobbe,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Federal agencies halted overdose-surveillance networks, delayed youth smoking data, scaled back food-safety pathogen monitoring and purged transgender health information from websites.—
Mike Stobbe,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Lumley said the progress of the bill halted in 2025 due to conflicts with some of the agricultural groups in the state.—
Cami Koons,
Iowa Capital Dispatch,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
But online, this particular bombshell—that ANTM hindered rather than helped burgeoning supermodels—proves especially surprising to viewers.—
Madeline Hirsch,
InStyle,
17 Feb. 2026
-
These wafers offer fewer recombination sites, which can significantly enhance electrical performance, but their practical use has been hindered by fragility.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
14 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Held up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/held%20up. Accessed 18 Feb. 2026.
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