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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All turned back from fear or foul weather.—
David A. Graham,
The Atlantic,
2 June 2026 -
While the early 2000s have certainly been trending as part of streetwear and Gen Z style inspiration, several high-profile stars, like Lopez, have turned back to the 2000s for their red carpet and promotional tour looks.—
Julia Teti,
Footwear News,
27 May 2026
Verb
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But the family is not to be put off.—
Francesco Pacifico,
The Dial,
9 Dec. 2025
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Data by YuWa found that raising a child through age 18 in China costs over 538,000 yuan ($76,000), which may put off many young adults amid a slowing economy and unstable job market, Bloomberg reported.—
Brendan Cole,
MSNBC Newsweek,
2 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Omar Artar, making history as Somalia’s first World Cup referee, was turned away upon arrival at Miami International Airport.—
Syra Ortiz Blanes,
Miami Herald,
9 June 2026
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O’Hare is not the only airport from which World Cup participants have been turned away.—
Allison Kiehl,
Chicago Tribune,
9 June 2026
Verb
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The former couple broke off their seven-year engagement in November 2020.—
Juliana Ukiomogbe,
InStyle,
8 June 2026
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Google’s solar eternal program was terminated shortly after a wing section broke off its Solara 50 aircraft in flight in 2015.—
David Hambling,
Forbes.com,
4 June 2026
Verb
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The suit alleges she was informed the officer resisted calls to attend remedial training going so far as to tell his fellow officers that Internal Affairs could open up an insubordination case on him.—
Harrison Mantas,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
10 June 2026
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Media buyers have pressed for rollbacks in rates on cable, and the media companies have resisted.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
10 June 2026
Verb
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Chesmore deferred additional questions to the fire district.—
Michael Loria,
USA Today,
21 Aug. 2025
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Records show Rockbridge, which deferred a request for comment to Joblon, lent $37 million in 2021 to BMC, which opened the hotel that year.—
Thomas Gounley,
Denver Post,
18 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The other are held by Tareq Saleh, who is the National Resistance military coalition leader and nephew to late longtime President Ali Abdullah Saleh, and influential tribal leader Othman Hussein Megali, who hails from the Houthi homeland of Saada and is fiercely opposed to the group.—
Tom O'Connor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 Dec. 2025
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Disability advocates and people with disabilities who rely on the service opposed the change, in public comments at the meeting, in letters to RTD board members, and in the media.—
Austen Erblat,
CBS News,
8 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Life in prison without parole Lawhead’s arraignment had been postponed twice before, so he was scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday morning in Placer Superior Court.—
Rosalio Ahumada,
Sacbee.com,
16 June 2026
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Because of her recovery timeline, Tyler’s shows scheduled through August will be canceled or postponed until next year, according to the update.—
Tracy Brown,
Los Angeles Times,
16 June 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 17 Jun. 2026.
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