1
as in delay
an instance or period of being prevented from going about one's business
there'll be a holdback on production until the new machinery is fully installed
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in obstacle
something that makes movement or progress difficult
the only holdback to starting the new job is my contractual commitment to my current position
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to hamper
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to stifle
to refrain from openly showing or uttering
held back her tears until she was alone
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of holdback
Sharyl Attkisson, Baltimore Sun, 14 Mar. 2025
However, the main holdback of the team making this kind of pick is one of their other needs directly relates to how good of a pick Boise State product could be.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 22 Mar. 2025
Hugh Cameron, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 July 2025
Air cargo demand grew by a modest 0.8 percent in June, held back heavily by North American airlines on global routes, which contracted 6.1 percent year over year.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 31 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for holdback
Noun
And there could have been some holdback.
—Sharyl Attkisson, Baltimore Sun, 14 Mar. 2025
However, the main holdback of the team making this kind of pick is one of their other needs directly relates to how good of a pick Boise State product could be.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 22 Mar. 2025
Verb
Ahead of the decision, Trump again accused Powell of holding back an otherwise-roaring economy.
—Hugh Cameron, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 July 2025
Air cargo demand grew by a modest 0.8 percent in June, held back heavily by North American airlines on global routes, which contracted 6.1 percent year over year.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 31 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for holdback
Recent Examples of Synonyms for holdback
Noun
-
So there’s some good news for Samsung users who would otherwise continue to harbor frustration at the company’s latest Android upgrade delays—maybe.—
Zak Doffman,
Forbes.com,
5 Aug. 2025
-
The timeline for commercial production remains uncertain and subject to indefinite delays due to technical, financial, and regulatory hurdles.—
Kevin Green,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Highlighting the beauty and peril of open water swimming and the obstacles women continue to face in the pursuit of equality, Vindication Swim has been praised for its vivid portrait of Gleitze as a pioneering trailblazer for women’s open water swimming around the world.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
6 Aug. 2025
-
The move by Maxwell, while expected, adds to the obstacles the DOJ must overcome to release grand jury transcripts from Epstein's and Maxwell's cases.—
Tracy Wright,
FOXNews.com,
5 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Maintain a safe distance from large vehicles - Trucks or buses can produce a water spray that hampers visibility.—
STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
4 Aug. 2025
-
After a development process allegedly hampered by a myriad of technical issues, Alexa+ started rolling out to users' Amazon Echo devices earlier this year, albeit with a limited feature set compared to Amazon's final vision for the product.—
Will McCurdy,
PC Magazine,
3 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Further, whites used the threat of racist violence, tacitly approved by elites, to stifle efforts to empower the Black population.—
Time,
Time,
7 Aug. 2025
-
That’s when, particularly in the tech space, incumbents have the greatest incentive to stifle new technologies.—
Rohan Goswami,
semafor.com,
7 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
In fact, as reported by The Lund Report, 30% of patients have left an appointment due to long waits, and 20% have switched doctors for the same reason.—
Ankit Kumar Agarwal,
Forbes.com,
6 Aug. 2025
-
Besides helping families, the program aims to reduce wait times in standard security lines, which are averaging 10 minutes or less, Silata said.—
Skyler Swisher,
The Orlando Sentinel,
5 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
That strategy pulled the plug on BP’s 2020 pledge to become a net-zero energy company, which hit a string of hurdles.—
J.D. Capelouto,
semafor.com,
5 Aug. 2025
-
Uranium enrichment, nuclear power plants and data centers are among potential plans for the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant, although significant hurdles remain.—
Connor Giffin,
The Courier-Journal,
5 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Ward was arrested in Texas on June 12 and charged with assault on a family member by impeding breathing or circulation, which is a third-degree felony.—
Paulina Dedaj,
FOXNews.com,
8 Aug. 2025
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Sources claimed the suit could have impeded Skydance’s acquisition of Paramount, which requires approval from the FCC under the Trump administration.—
McKinley Franklin,
HollywoodReporter,
5 Aug. 2025
Verb
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One woman described witnessing the harms of diseases that have been suppressed by vaccination, noting that her mother has experienced weakness in her limbs as the result of a childhood polio infection.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
4 Aug. 2025
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Four engines, one water tender, two dozers and two hand crews are working to suppress the fire.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
4 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Holdback.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/holdback. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
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