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as in to put off
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Recent Examples of hold off
Last season’s 4-8 team wore down during the second half during losses at LSU, Miami and Texas A&M, was overrun at home by Tennessee and couldn’t hold off USF during a defeat that effectively sealed former head coach Billy Napier’s fate.
—
Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 31 Mar. 2026
Ryan O’Hearn had three hits and two RBIs, including a go-ahead single in the 10th inning, and the Pittsburgh Pirates threw out the potential tying run at the plate to hold off the New York Mets 4-3 on Sunday for their first victory this season.
—ABC News, 29 Mar. 2026
Haimes filed his ruling on Thursday, just hours after Poliakoff and legal counsel for the city filed a joint motion requesting that the judge hold off on a ruling because both parties had agreed to enter into settlement negotiations.
—Susannah Bryan, Sun Sentinel, 27 Mar. 2026
Trump, meanwhile, is trying to jam through an unrelated voter-ID bill and has told Republicans to hold off on a DHS funding deal with Democrats until the SAVE America Act is passed.
—Justin Papp, CNBC, 23 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hold off
Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 31 Mar. 2026
Ryan O’Hearn had three hits and two RBIs, including a go-ahead single in the 10th inning, and the Pittsburgh Pirates threw out the potential tying run at the plate to hold off the New York Mets 4-3 on Sunday for their first victory this season.
—ABC News, 29 Mar. 2026
Haimes filed his ruling on Thursday, just hours after Poliakoff and legal counsel for the city filed a joint motion requesting that the judge hold off on a ruling because both parties had agreed to enter into settlement negotiations.
—Susannah Bryan, Sun Sentinel, 27 Mar. 2026
Trump, meanwhile, is trying to jam through an unrelated voter-ID bill and has told Republicans to hold off on a DHS funding deal with Democrats until the SAVE America Act is passed.
—Justin Papp, CNBC, 23 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hold off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hold off
Verb
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Supporters describe him as a fighter but Harris resists the label of politician.—
Brian Unger,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026
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Lori’s speech articulates the fundamental twinship of artists and critics—a reality that has always resisted attempts to drive a wedge between the two.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
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While Robinson's defense is seeking to put off his preliminary hearing for another six months, Kirk's widow, Erika Kirk, has filed a notice with the court invoking her right to seek a speedy trial as a victim under Utah law.—
Michael Ruiz , Adam Sabes,
FOXNews.com,
31 Mar. 2026
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In the post, the shopper described being put off by the condition of the shop and the behavior of two employees behind the counter.—
Melissa Fleur Afshar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The aircraft, carrying a flight instructor and student pilot, had climbed to roughly 1,700 feet before turning back toward the airport.—
Stephen Sorace,
FOXNews.com,
1 Apr. 2026
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An American journalist who was kidnapped in Baghdad had tried to cross from Syria into Iraq three weeks earlier and was initially turned back, an Iraqi official said Wednesday.—
Qassim Abdul-Zahra,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Shawn Iles, 3rd, was also poised to reject the proposal before Burns’ motioned to table the discussion.—
Claire Murphy,
Chicago Tribune,
31 Mar. 2026
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Upon returning, Gosar moved to table the motion to subpoena.—
Garrett Downs,
CNBC,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
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When Guthrie anchors the Today show on Easter Monday, a major break in the case withstanding, the Christian spillover-holiday will mark the 65th day since her mother, Nancy Guthrie, 84, was taken from her home in Tucson, Arizona.—
Tony Maglio,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Apr. 2026
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This connection provides the data needed to design divertors that can withstand the heat loads of real-world fusion energy production.—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
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It’s been stolen and recovered, had its nose broken off, and for 20 years the city stored it away for safety, which rather defeats the point of public statuary.—
Patt Morrison,
Los Angeles Times,
2 Apr. 2026
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Sixty yards beyond, the ridge broke off sharply in three directions.—
Charles Elliott,
Outdoor Life,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Because being with their own thoughts, emotions and bodily sensations can be so difficult, people often turn away from them.—
J. David Creswell,
The Conversation,
31 Mar. 2026
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Still, Brooks’s turn away from politics and toward a more therapeutic project has not been wholly unhelpful.—
Becca Rothfeld,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
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His deal would have funded TSA, FEMA, and the Coast Guard immediately, while deferring the fight over ICE to a later vote.—
Jesus Mesa,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Mar. 2026
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Forget that Tucker is the highest annual earner in major-league history, that Ohtani agreed to defer $680 million of his salary and that the Dodgers are paying nearly $30 million to their eighth- and ninth-inning pitchers this season.—
Jeff Sanders,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hold off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hold%20off. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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