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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of held back
The Baltimore Ravens came into Sunday's matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs with significant problems on the defensive side of the ball that have held back their typically impressive offense.
—
Reice Shipley, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Sep. 2025
Insults were hurled at McIlroy with such ferocity that his playing partner Shane Lowry had to be held back from going over the ropes to get at the fans.
—Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 28 Sep. 2025
The Oscar winner held back, curious how invested his son was in the opportunity.
—Andrea Mandell, PEOPLE, 28 Sep. 2025
Lowry had to be held back by a caddie on the 10th tee and asked security to escort a fan away.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 27 Sep. 2025
Some states slashed existing spending on their universities while others held back new investments.
—Jeffrey Selingo, New Yorker, 19 Sep. 2025
But in terms of censorship, we’ve not been held back.
—Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 19 Sep. 2025
In another video of the incident, posted on Facebook, Bryan is captured trying to hop over the fence in an attempt to get to Adcock, before he is held back by security.
—Escher Walcott, People.com, 14 Sep. 2025
Inmates who can be identified for RRC should not be held back because of capacity issues to meet their needs for a return to society.
—Walter Pavlo, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
Reice Shipley, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Sep. 2025
Insults were hurled at McIlroy with such ferocity that his playing partner Shane Lowry had to be held back from going over the ropes to get at the fans.
—Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 28 Sep. 2025
The Oscar winner held back, curious how invested his son was in the opportunity.
—Andrea Mandell, PEOPLE, 28 Sep. 2025
Lowry had to be held back by a caddie on the 10th tee and asked security to escort a fan away.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 27 Sep. 2025
Some states slashed existing spending on their universities while others held back new investments.
—Jeffrey Selingo, New Yorker, 19 Sep. 2025
But in terms of censorship, we’ve not been held back.
—Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 19 Sep. 2025
In another video of the incident, posted on Facebook, Bryan is captured trying to hop over the fence in an attempt to get to Adcock, before he is held back by security.
—Escher Walcott, People.com, 14 Sep. 2025
Inmates who can be identified for RRC should not be held back because of capacity issues to meet their needs for a return to society.
—Walter Pavlo, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for held back
Verb
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Seven in 10 Gen Xers say inflation has hampered their savings.—
Daniel de Visé,
USA Today,
27 Sep. 2025
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But its progress was hampered by the security and economic crisis resulting from Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.—
Christian Edwards,
CNN Money,
26 Sep. 2025
Verb
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This all comes amid multiple feuds between the ADL and several Christian conservatives, including podcasters Candace Owens and Tucker Carlson, and concerns over the rise in antisemitism and whether free speech is being stifled in the name of combating it.—
Jordan King,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Oct. 2025
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Doku took it upon himself to dribble past two defenders and set up Esteve’s own-goal, but that aside, Parker’s strategy stifled City.—
Anantaajith Raghuraman,
New York Times,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Another key distinction was that the Cowboys' defense didn't sack Williams, something that hindered him in the Bears' first two losses to the Minnesota Vikings and Detroit Lions.—
Matthew Couden,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Sep. 2025
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However, the ephemeral nature of trends has hindered people from finding ways to heal their skin and hair in the most natural ways possible.—
Wyles Daniel,
USA Today,
23 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Defenders downed or suppressed 566 drones and 45 missiles, the air force said.—
David Brennan,
ABC News,
28 Sep. 2025
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Advertisement Amazon still faces another lawsuit brought by the FTC in 2023, which alleged that the company is an exploitative monopoly and illegally suppressed competition among online marketplaces.—
Miranda Jeyaretnam,
Time,
26 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Another lottery pick, Leo Carlsson, twice impeded Utah’s progress up the ice.—
Andrew Knoll,
Oc Register,
23 Sep. 2025
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The implementation of the SCORE Act could be impeded by other types of legal challenges.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
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But Kelvin Wheelies closed in 1983 and has been slowly getting swallowed by trees and shrubs ever since.—
Popular Science Team,
Popular Science,
24 Sep. 2025
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Here, slowly being swallowed by vegetation and worn down by time, are gigantic mausoleums, vast underground cisterns, temples, imposing city walls and a breathtaking theater perched, like Machu Picchu, on a hilltop that offers views stretching for miles all around.—
Barry Neild,
CNN Money,
23 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Me, a beautiful and clever five-time Emmy-winning writer with a few Wednesday nights free, and The Golden Bachelor, a heartwarming and adorable exploration of women’s second acts with a male doofus at the center who has already embarrassed himself.—
Ali Barthwell,
Vulture,
25 Sep. 2025
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Of course, some embarrassed me within a sentence or two, and were dispatched quickly.—
Jane Ciabattari
September 25,
Literary Hub,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Prosecutors say Comey lied about authorizing an FBI source to speak to the media about the investigation and obstructed Congress by making false statements intended to impede lawmakers’ probe into the FBI’s actions, according to a copy of the indictment obtained by The Washington Post.—
Brendan Rascius,
Miami Herald,
26 Sep. 2025
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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 laying nude in bed with her arm, side and thigh visible but face mostly obstructed.—
Jack Irvin,
PEOPLE,
25 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Held back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/held%20back. Accessed 2 Oct. 2025.
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