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
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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The new law removes the certificate of need requirement for facilities with four or fewer beds, a major obstacle that previously hindered their creation.—
Killian Baarlaer,
Louisville Courier Journal,
3 Oct. 2025
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Some McElwain staffers argue the Gators’ 2016 defense could have led a CFP push if Luke Del Rio remained healthy, and offseason shoulder/leg injuries hindered Lagway’s progress this fall.—
Matt Baker,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 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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Art concerns particularities of human existence framed by the big picture, but the picture has swallowed the frame.—
Kate Colby
October 2,
Literary Hub,
2 Oct. 2025
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Reeves and Winter are often swallowed up by the bottomless void their characters occupy, with very little room to let loose and play.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
29 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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Women are barred from ordination in the Catholic Church, and the disagreement has obstructed attempts to bring the churches together.—
Christopher Lamb,
CNN Money,
3 Oct. 2025
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Comey is alleged to have obstructed Congress by lying to a Senate committee in 2020 while being questioned about probes into Trump in 2016, according to the indictment.—
Filip Timotija,
The Hill,
26 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Held back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/held%20back. Accessed 5 Oct. 2025.
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