HOLD DOWN Synonyms: 66 Similar and Opposite Words

hold down 1 of 2

verb

Definition of hold down

as in to limit

to set bounds or an upper limit for efforts to hold down taxes keep running up against the legislature's ingrained unwillingness to cut spending

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

hold-down

2 of 2

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of hold down

Verb

Residents of a smallish town outside of the capital Sofia, Gosha and Marina are a childless couple who have held down low-key lucrative positions for some time. — Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 14 July 2026 In the background of the photograph are canvas tents, ripped in spots, patchworked together, held down by metal stakes and small boulders. — Literary Hub, 14 July 2026

Noun

These hold-down test-firings are typically one of the final milestones in a Starship launch campaign before SpaceX moves the rocket to the launch pad. — ArsTechnica, 19 June 2025 Then, 12 hold-down bolts fired and freed the Delta IV Heavy for its climb into space with a top-secret payload for the US government's spy satellite agency. — Stephen Clark, Ars Technica, 9 Apr. 2024 See All Example Sentences for hold down

Recent Examples of Synonyms for hold down

Verb

China simultaneously placed strict restrictions on its refineries, limiting their output of gasoline, diesel and jet fuel.

— David Goldman, CNN Money, 21 July 2026
When Facebook, now Meta, went public, many factors combined to limit the market response on the first day.

— Erik Sherman, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026

Definition of limit

Noun

Push on it and the load distributes across the whole shell instead of finding the weakest fastener.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 1 July 2026
The humble fastener has enthralled Chamberlain for years—so much so that a tattoo of a singular button is etched into her upper arm.

— Kate McGregor, Architectural Digest, 1 Apr. 2026

Definition of fastener

Verb

Traditional funerals in which loved ones wash and prepare bodies have been restricted, which has angered some residents.

— ABC News, ABC News, 18 July 2026
The Biden administration later introduced export controls in 2022 to restrict China's ability to buy advanced computing chips and manufacture advanced semiconductors, citing national security risks.

— Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 17 July 2026

Definition of restrict

Noun

The collection is among the most significant private holdings of European art assembled in the 21st century, and was gifted to the museum in 2024.

— News Desk, Artforum, 16 July 2026
The gift nearly doubles the Clark’s holdings of sculpture, and includes highlights like a pair of bronze sculptures of rearing horses by Fernandino Tacca.

— Brian Boucher, ARTnews.com, 16 July 2026

Definition of holding

Verb

Zimbabwe has tightened controls on lithium, Mozambique now requires more graphite to be processed domestically, and Gabon plans to halt raw manganese exports later this decade.

— Yinka Adegoke, semafor.com, 17 July 2026
In 2018, the state tightened its magazine restrictions, lowering the legal capacity from 15 rounds to 10.

— Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 17 July 2026

Definition of tighten

Noun

If nothing else, garnering a point from a tie was a far better outcome for the Current than last week’s 3-0 loss at Orlando.

— The Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 18 July 2026
The ensemble drama traces the unpredictable shape of grief and family dynamics, aiming for an emotionally candid portrait of loss and the ties that hold communities together.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 17 July 2026

Definition of tie

Browse Nearby Words

holdbacks

hold down

hold-down

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Hold down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hold%20down. Accessed 23 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of hold down

verb

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

maverick

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 24

Why do we say 'fly off the handle'?

Popular

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes