HELD (BACK) Synonyms: 107 Similar and Opposite Words

held back

verb

past tense of hold back

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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 held back Her relentless advocacy to break down barriers that had held back women for decades was echoed by Nancy Pelosi in an interview with MSNOW. — Noe Padilla, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026 Bringing PacWave South online will help streamline the testing and permitting process that has held back marine energy for decades, an Energy Department spokesperson said in a statement. — ABC News, 26 Aug. 2026 He was scheduled to throw over the weekend with El Paso but was held back after tweaking his back while working between starts. — Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026 Cunningham got up, charged Carrington and pushed her as she was held back by a teammate. — Jay Cohen, Chicago Tribune, 24 Aug. 2026 Self Simulated is an obstacle-course platformer that recalls Super Meat Boy, but it's held back by controls that aren't nearly as tight and frustratingly large instant-kill hit boxes. — Will Greenwald, PC Magazine, 22 Aug. 2026 The new on-pitch laws… There was confusion at Middlesbrough’s Riverside Stadium in the first round of the Carabao Cup, when substitute Fin Cartwright was held back from entering the pitch straight away. — George Edwards, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026 Yet too many are held back by a lack of financial confidence. — Kate Hayward, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026 Chinese state media suggested the possibility of leveraging rare earths as retaliation, but Beijing still held back. — Gloria Xiong, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for held back

Verb

Last season was hampered by an injury to starter Drew Allar, but Penn State has had more than eight passes over 40 yards, in a season, one time in the last six years.

— The Athletic College Football Staff, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
Fiske is at full strength after being hampered last season by a knee injury sustained at the end of his rookie year.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 7 Sep. 2026

Definition of hampered

Verb

Shipping has been stifled in the Strait of Hormuz, through which about 20% of the world's oil supply flowed prior to the war.

— ABC News, ABC News, 4 Sep. 2026
Hiring has been stifled in part by high uncertainty, high interest rates, high inflation and volatile policy shifts and geopolitical developments.

— Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of stifled

Verb

Ben Simmons, a former All-Star whose career has been hindered by injuries and mental health issues, is returning to the NBA as a member of the Sacramento Kings.

— Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 4 Sep. 2026
The new decree also implements other significant changes that had already been announced, including allowing the creation of private farming businesses, a restriction that has hindered food production on the island.

— Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of hindered

Verb

People in crisis incarcerated in Joliet have set over 60 fires since summer 2024, including eight cases of self-immolation and, after guards impeded access to lifesaving care, at least one death.

— Joan Steffen, Chicago Tribune, 7 Sep. 2026
Kupor, head of the government’s chief human resources agency since July 2025, has publicly argued even jobs conducive to remote work can be impeded by working from home.

— Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of impeded

Verb

One night earlier in the tour, a woman Usher had brought onstage rebuked him, which embarrassed him.

— Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 18 Aug. 2026
This isn’t a hypercar to smash lap records around the Nürburgring, but nor will it be embarrassed by a Porsche 911 GT3 at a track day.

— Tim Pitt, Robb Report, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of embarrassed

Verb

Yoon has defended his action, calling it a desperate attempt to draw public support for his fight against the liberal opposition Democratic Party that obstructed his agenda.

— ABC News, ABC News, 31 Aug. 2026
Fake, obstructed, and missing plates are a major concern with cars and undoubtedly would be with MMVs.

— Richard Robbins, New York Daily News, 18 Aug. 2026