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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for holdbacks
Noun
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The Cowboys are no strangers to early-season weather delays in Pennsylvania.—
Saad Yousuf,
New York Times,
5 Sep. 2025 -
Bieber himself was aware of the anxiety over the delays and posted a couple messages on his Instagram that there seemed to be a technical delay of some sort.—
Abid Rahman,
HollywoodReporter,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Similarly, Arizona’s native flora and fauna have their own obstacles to survival in one of the world’s most unforgiving landscapes.—
John Leos,
AZCentral.com,
3 Sep. 2025
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Some cities install physical barriers like planters, bike racks, or other obstacles, to ensure compliance.—
Phaedra Trethan,
USA Today,
3 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The bus service’s long waits also caused crowding and loitering in the area, spokeswoman Pauline Haberman said at the time.—
Elliott Wenzler,
Denver Post,
5 Sep. 2025
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These fictional AIs tapped into our deepest worries about healthcare—long waits at the doctor's office, confusing medical information and the wish for constant health guidance.—
Sanath Chilakala,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Artest has aspirations to set the program record and win the state championship in the 300 hurdles.—
Michael Osipoff,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Sep. 2025
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Back in 2012, Tesla’s board offered him a deal based on production and stock price hurdles.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
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In 2025, Roborock launched a vacuum cleaner with a robotic arm for moving socks and other obstructions out of the way.—
Evelyn Cheng,
CNBC,
21 Aug. 2025
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The Buck is collecting data to identify any obstructions to the safe navigation of traffic entering or exiting the Port of Baltimore via the Fort McHenry Federal Channel.—
Glenn Taylor,
Sourcing Journal,
19 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Don Felder, a second cousin who now helps manage Gibson’s estate and legacy, grew up hearing her tell stories breaking the barriers in tennis and then in golf.—
Matthew Futterman,
New York Times,
6 Sep. 2025
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The Speak No Evil star is bringing his directorial debut California Schemin’ to the Toronto Film Festival for a world premiere, and his hip hop hoax movie reveals why Scots speaking with a different accent from the English face key barriers to success down south.—
Etan Vlessing,
HollywoodReporter,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
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For many, the glamour of it all seemed to be gone, replaced with a glossy series of embarrassments.—
Lyz Lenz,
Rolling Stone,
16 Aug. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Holdbacks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/holdbacks. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
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