1
as in delays
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 obstacles
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of holdbacks
That’s 3% from holdbacks Little ordered in August amid a revenue shortfall, plus a 1% cut that the Legislature’s powerful budget committee voted to include.
—
Idaho Statesman, 7 Mar. 2026
Idaho Statesman, 7 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for holdbacks
Noun
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The insurer has come under heavy criticism from fire victims over its handling of claims, including complaints of low payout offers, denials for toxin testing and delays in payments for living expenses.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Mar. 2026
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For public transit, confirm that service runs frequently and late enough to accommodate potential delays.—
Abby Price,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Mar. 2026
Noun
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All four of those teams have faced obstacles in their path of rebuilding.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Mar. 2026
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Chicago must also remove obstacles to effective policing, use technology such as the ShotSpotter gunshot detection system, and update and enforce curfew regulations.—
Juan Rangel,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Mar. 2026
Noun
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About a third of the Republican polling places have over 30-minute waits.—
Rachel Royster
Updated March 3,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
4 Mar. 2026
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Local spots right near the venue might have shorter waits and easier parking than driving to Wynwood or Miami Beach before the game starts.—
Taylor Haught,
Miami Herald,
4 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Easing installation hurdles While OpenClaw has surged in popularity recently, experts have previously pointed out limitations to the AI agent's mass adoption, including a complex installation process that's challenging for nontechnical users.—
Evelyn Cheng,Dylan Butts,
CNBC,
12 Mar. 2026
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Iran’s attempts to scale up desalination projects along its southern coast face significant hurdles, including international sanctions, high energy costs, and infrastructure bottlenecks.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
11 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Currently, the Port Authority pays to have obstructions removed.—
Doug Ross,
Chicago Tribune,
1 Mar. 2026
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Altogether, there were some 252 obstructions around Mexico.—
Kathryn Palmer,
USA Today,
24 Feb. 2026
Noun
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That definition came to encompass places like neighborhood coffee shops, libraries, bars and more, where people from different backgrounds came together in an informal setting with relatively low barriers to access.—
Laya Neelakandan,
CNBC,
7 Mar. 2026
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Part of that surplus went toward the creation of the LA84 Foundation, which promotes youth sports by removing barriers and aiming to give all children, regardless of their socioeconomic background or ability, opportunities to participate in sports.—
Linh Tat,
Daily News,
7 Mar. 2026
Noun
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But often those intentions stumble into a political quagmire where democratic dreams turn into civil war, once-compliant dictators become embarrassments and American soldiers return home in body bags.—
Tim Sullivan,
Fortune,
1 Mar. 2026
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While the turnout had indeed been strong, the decision also came across as an attempt to steady the narrative after a series of logistical embarrassments, reframing disruption as demand.—
The AI Insider,
Interesting Engineering,
23 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Holdbacks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/holdbacks. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
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