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
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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
Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 20 Oct. 2025
The all-cash deal includes $75 million in holdbacks tied to certain performance targets and milestones over the next two years.
—Dade Hayes, Deadline, 1 May 2025
Kate Sequeira, Los Angeles Times, 24 Mar. 2026
But that amount is not enough to replace the roughly 10 million barrels per day or more now held back by the closed Strait of Hormuz.
—Scott L. Montgomery, The Conversation, 23 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for holdback
Noun
He would then be allowed to use the materials after a holdback period—either 12 months following the release of the documentary or two years from the agreement’s signing, whichever comes first.
—Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 20 Oct. 2025
The all-cash deal includes $75 million in holdbacks tied to certain performance targets and milestones over the next two years.
—Dade Hayes, Deadline, 1 May 2025
Verb
Two-thirds of children who were held back had summer birthdays between June and August — near the kindergarten enrollment cutoff dates in most states — and would have been young for their grade.
—Kate Sequeira, Los Angeles Times, 24 Mar. 2026
But that amount is not enough to replace the roughly 10 million barrels per day or more now held back by the closed Strait of Hormuz.
—Scott L. Montgomery, The Conversation, 23 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for holdback
Recent Examples of Synonyms for holdback
Noun
-
Balancing these two extremes, fear that delays and haste that risks reinjury, is key, Webster said.—
Ian McMahan,
New York Times,
21 Mar. 2026
-
The rain again caused multiple delays throughout the mostly gray, sometimes sunny and unseasonably cool day, in the end postponing at least six matches.—
Susan Miller Degnan,
Miami Herald,
21 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Shifts in the technology industry have been a primary obstacle to recovery of the conference and convention business in San Jose, Bellisario said.—
Ethan Baron,
Mercury News,
21 Mar. 2026
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Martinez-Cid points to the Helms-Burden Act, as the most significant obstacle for any Cuban Americans considering investment.—
Isabel Rosales,
CNN Money,
21 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Garland died in 1969, of an accidental overdose of sleeping pills, but the tragedy did not hamper Minnelli’s ascent.—
Matt Weinstock,
New Yorker,
25 Mar. 2026
-
His ability to hold runners has hampered him.—
Shawn McFarland,
Dallas Morning News,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
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While there is no law in Connecticut explicitly prohibiting the use of plug-in panels, also known as balcony solar, the need for interconnection agreements with local utilities and a lack of clear regulations has effectively stifled their widespread adoption, experts say.—
John Moritz,
Hartford Courant,
25 Mar. 2026
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Camp at the trailhead and start early to beat the stifling desert heat, and be rewarded with shafts of ethereal light dancing on the cliffs.—
Madison Chapman,
Outside,
25 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Anyone who showed up after that was told the wait would be about an hour.—
Théoden Janes,
Charlotte Observer,
24 Mar. 2026
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This would in turn cut down the wait time as officers continue to call out of work in their second month of working without pay.—
Irene Wright,
USA Today,
24 Mar. 2026
Noun
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For some seniors in Minnesota, happy hour comes with hurdles — but a new bill could change that by letting assisted living facilities serve drinks without a liquor license.—
Deirdre Bardolf,
FOXNews.com,
21 Mar. 2026
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The layering of seemingly redundant policies targeting the same countries — new visa charges, entry bans and benefit-application freezes — are designed to create so many bureaucratic hurdles that people give up, experts and lawyers have told the Herald.—
Syra Ortiz Blanes,
Miami Herald,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
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What personal demons will impede the hunt for a killer?—
Graham Hillard,
The Washington Examiner,
20 Mar. 2026
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Among other things, the plaintiffs argue ingress via Billings Road should not be impeded or limited to La Cantera residents.—
Matthew Adams,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Although Nigeria was temporarily suspended from the Commonwealth group of nations, the oil industry continued its operations, and federal governments continued to misappropriate their share of the revenues and violently suppress protests.—
Noo Saro-Wiwa,
The Dial,
24 Mar. 2026
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This structural scaling suppressed unwanted charge trapping and leakage currents, ensuring the chip remains electronically stable even under intense, high-dose gamma exposure.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
24 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Holdback.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/holdback. Accessed 27 Mar. 2026.
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