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
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Recent Examples of holdback
Cori Sears, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Mar. 2026
If the house is not sold after 180 days, the company retains what remains of the 30% holdback.
—Lew Sichelman, Miami Herald, 26 Feb. 2026
Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 16 June 2026
Her husband Ve Bui accepted the honor, holding back tears.
—Darcel Rockett, Chicago Tribune, 15 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for holdback
Noun
Add curtain holdbacks with playful animal details, or top your door hinges with decorative hinge caps for a knowing wink of whimsy.
—Cori Sears, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Mar. 2026
If the house is not sold after 180 days, the company retains what remains of the 30% holdback.
—Lew Sichelman, Miami Herald, 26 Feb. 2026
Verb
While the cohosts stood to welcome Vance, several audience members were seen holding back applause.
—Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 16 June 2026
Her husband Ve Bui accepted the honor, holding back tears.
—Darcel Rockett, Chicago Tribune, 15 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for holdback
Recent Examples of Synonyms for holdback
Noun
-
Follow evacuation instructions without delay.—
STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
20 June 2026
-
But with just a 60-day window to finalize a deal, any delay leaves less time to negotiate peace.—
Nic Robertson,
CNN Money,
19 June 2026
Noun
-
Autonomy in this case involves being able to reach destinations by using camera images to navigate around obstacles such as craters and pits without the involvement of mission control.—
Keith Cooper,
Space.com,
13 June 2026
-
Despite the obstacles, anticipation has been building across the capital.—
Reuters,
NBC news,
13 June 2026
Verb
-
Popular notions of philanthropy as merely a game for the ultrawealthy to fund partisan projects and commit fraud have left the sector vulnerable to political attacks, as the Council on Foundations sees it, influencing policies that hamper essential community services.—
James Pollard,
Los Angeles Times,
15 June 2026
-
Congolese health authorities have previously said contact tracing has been hampered by community resistance in some areas and by the rapid expansion of the outbreak into new health zones, increasing the workload for surveillance teams.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 June 2026
Verb
-
The Valkyries seemed equally eager to welcome the rookie to the league’s most intimidating road environment, and succeeded in stifling the 23-year-old guard.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
18 June 2026
-
When fact and fiction run together, when folks seek to stifle speech, limit access to education, devalue diversity, erase the inconvenient parts of our history.—
Sara Tenenbaum,
CBS News,
18 June 2026
Noun
-
For anyone with a non-Pixel Android phone, the wait will be much longer.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
16 June 2026
-
The wait ended at Frost Bank Center, where the Knicks beat the San Antonio Spurs, 94-90, in Game 5 of the NBA Finals and won their first championship since 1973.—
C.J. Holmes,
New York Daily News,
14 June 2026
Noun
-
The city witnessed Carl Lewis win four Olympic gold medals, cheered Valerie Brisco-Hooks’ historic golden double and watched Edwin Moses extend his 400-meter hurdles unbeaten streak.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
13 June 2026
-
The antitrust hurdle cleared by Paramount comes as state attorneys general in California, New York and almost a dozen other states are contemplating an antitrust suit to put the brakes on what would become a mega-studio.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
12 June 2026
Verb
-
The score was immediately protested by the Australians, who felt their goalkeeper had been impeded or there was an offside.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
19 June 2026
-
Too large a rotor can obstruct your suspension, impede your brakes and often won’t even fit inside your wheel or caliper.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
18 June 2026
Verb
-
But suppressing undesirable emotions is not only impossible but also not all that helpful.—
Dr. Deepika Chopra,
Flow Space,
16 June 2026
-
Among the combinations studied, the team found that electron leakage could be suppressed at dimensions below 4 nanometers, suggesting future transistors may be scaled even further than current technologies allow.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
16 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Holdback.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/holdback. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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