1
as in turned back
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2
as in put off
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Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for held off
Verb
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The announcers briefly turned back to the game after one of the players called for time.—
Samantha Agate,
Miami Herald,
6 Apr. 2026 -
Maybe, maybe, maybe— Hans turned back to his board, red splotches rising on his cheeks.—
Ben Mezrich,
Vanity Fair,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Or will the scandal, just three years gone, put off fans of her progressive policies?—
Boston Herald editorial staff,
Boston Herald,
10 Apr. 2026
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These Zendaya fans also have been put off by Sweeney’s desire to be seen at Jeff Bezos’s wedding last June and her choice to pursue a romantic relationship with the divisive — and 16 years older — entertainment mogul Scooter Braun.—
Martha Ross,
Mercury News,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Instead, Neuer plunged down, jutted out a wrist of steel, and Mbappe turned away, eyes wide in disbelief.—
Sebastian Stafford-Bloor,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2026
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According to the board’s findings, the deputy looked into the cell, then turned away and continued toward the exit.—
Kelly Davis,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The victim fought off Mohammed after being stabbed, holding onto the blade of a kitchen knife using a towel until the blade broke off the handle.—
Carlos E. Castañeda,
CBS News,
7 Apr. 2026
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The studios negotiated for more than a month with the performers’ union in February and March, but broke off in order to turn their attention to the writers.—
Gene Maddaus,
Variety,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Desmon Moore also physically resisted officers, documents filed with the court allege.—
Nick Sullivan
April 9,
Charlotte Observer,
9 Apr. 2026
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Despite the Air Force trying to phase out the A-10, Congress has resisted its efforts and blocked attempts to reduce the number of these aircraft.—
Landon Mion,
FOXNews.com,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
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On Thursday, the Miami City Commission deferred voting on two commissioners’ requests to fund affordable housing and parks in their districts after officials quarreled over which areas in the city have the most pressing needs, an argument that cut to the core of the wealth divide in Miami.—
Tess Riski
April 10,
Miami Herald,
10 Apr. 2026
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Council members Jared Fears and Bridget McCandless declined to comment and said that the situation was a personnel issue and deferred any comments to the city.—
Ben Wheeler
April 8,
Kansas City Star,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
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And our intervention happened despite a president who promised no regime change and who was opposed to starting new wars.—
Gary Franks,
Hartford Courant,
11 Apr. 2026
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The Peninsula Community Planning Board, a local advisory group to the city on land-use issues, has opposed the project, as have the Point Loma Association and Point Loma Assembly.—
Regina Elling,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
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But the state Department of Public Health and Human Services postponed adding doula services to its Medicaid program in late March, citing a budget shortfall driven in part by higher-than-expected Medicaid costs.—
Katheryn Houghton,
NPR,
7 Apr. 2026
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At the start of the episode, Seacrest will reveal the two contestants that were eliminated after last week's performances, results that were postponed after an unprecedented surge in votes during episode 10.—
Samantha Stutsman,
PEOPLE,
6 Apr. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Held off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/held%20off. Accessed 14 Apr. 2026.
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