hold down 1 of 2

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

hold-down

2 of 2

noun

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
Both of her parents worked, holding down odd jobs, and by September 2024, the family had settled in Bakersfield and S.G.V. was discharged from the hospital. Andrea Castillo, Los Angeles Times, 27 May 2025 His restaurant is held down by Yahya (Nader Arb Alhay), an unassuming young man who yearns for a better life, but, like so many of his fellow residents, is stuck in a dead end. Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 19 May 2025
Noun
SpaceX tested the water deluge system several times since April, including on a pair of hold-down engine tests with the Super Heavy booster in August. Stephen Clark, Ars Technica, 18 Nov. 2023 If the hold-down clamp is not tightened properly, the battery could move, allowing the positive terminal to contact the clamp and short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire, the company said. CBS News, 1 Nov. 2023 See All Example Sentences for hold down
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hold down
Verb
  • Luis fractured his hand in preseason, and shin splints in both legs limited his practice time.
    Sean Gregory, Time, 17 June 2025
  • In February 2025, Delta Air Lines introduced restrictions to its popular Sky Club lounges, limiting the number of visits per year based on which credit card travelers hold.
    Bailey Berg, AFAR Media, 17 June 2025
Verb
  • Endowment funds are usually restricted for specific purposes, such as a scholarship for a student who meets certain criteria.
    Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 23 June 2025
  • Instead of rotating his cows among fields every few weeks, Steyer restricts them to a small area and moves them more frequently.
    Elizabeth Kolbert, New Yorker, 23 June 2025
Noun
  • Representatives of the Trump Organization and World Liberty did not respond to requests for comment, which makes sense, given that broadcasting divestments could theoretically damage the value of Trump’s remaining crypto holdings.
    Dan Alexander, Forbes.com, 19 June 2025
  • Elsewhere in the region, Saudi Arabia has committed huge dollars to sports, luring stars such as Cristiano Ronaldo to its domestic soccer league and investing hundreds of millions of dollars to accumulate vast esports holdings.
    Brendan Coffey, Sportico.com, 19 June 2025
Verb
  • But when the Thunder defense tightened the clamps, Haliburton couldn’t dribble his way out of trouble.
    Joe Vardon, New York Times, 17 June 2025
  • In a strategic move, President Donald Trump has ordered that Greenland be transferred from the U.S. European Command to the U.S. Northern Command, tightening America’s grip on Arctic defense at a time of escalating global conflict.
    Jasmine Baehr , Liz Friden, FOXNews.com, 17 June 2025
Noun
  • Two other players with local ties — Oklahoma guard Jeremiah Fears (Joliet) and Michigan big man Danny Wolf (Glencoe) — are projected first-round picks, with Fears expected to go in the top 10.
    Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 25 June 2025
  • Investors are divided between preferring Musk focus on his businesses and hoping political ties would bring regulatory perks.
    Jesus Mesa, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 June 2025
Noun
  • And look: their outfits follow basic tailoring principles: jackets bisect halfway from collar to floor; jacket silhouette flows into trousers.
    Saajan Jogia, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 June 2025
  • The bear hunt rules require hounds be equipped with GPS and correction collars.
    Zoey Thomas, The Orlando Sentinel, 20 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Hold down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hold%20down. Accessed 1 Jul. 2025.

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