HOLDBACKS Synonyms: 97 Similar and Opposite Words

holdbacks

noun

plural of holdback

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 holdbacks In reality, holdbacks are about risk allocation, indemnity or unresolved diligence items. — Mike McIsaac Cpa, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2026 And maybe this is an opportunity to voice something, and that is that independent films from the United States are more and more often being subjected to strategies which used to be dedicated to bigger, more commercial films, in terms of holdbacks. — Jessica Kiang, Variety, 21 June 2026 Universities will continue to deal with the 3% holdbacks — plus another 2% drop — for next fiscal year, according to the statement of purpose for the appropriations bill that senators passed Thursday. — Becca Savransky, Idaho Statesman, 20 Mar. 2026 Add curtain holdbacks with playful animal details, or top your door hinges with decorative hinge caps for a knowing wink of whimsy. — Cori Sears, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Mar. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for holdbacks

Noun

Public opposition has already impacted around $42 billion of data center investments in Europe, in account delays and cancellations, according to research from STL Partners.

— April Roach,Jenny Lee, CNBC, 3 Oct. 2026
However, delays in actual delivery have meant that only the first batch has been delivered this year.

— Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 3 Oct. 2026

Definition of delays

Noun

Getting a diagnosis, navigating treatment and paying for care can present obstacles of their own, particularly for patients who face gaps in access to healthcare.

— Roni Robbins, AJC.com, 7 Oct. 2026
Those are big potential obstacles to Hill returning to the Chiefs.

— Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of obstacles

Noun

Long lines can be a strong deterrent to voting, especially for Black and Latino voters, who on average have experienced longer waits than white voters, according to a June 2020 report by the Brennan Center for Justice.

— TIME Staff, Time, 3 Oct. 2026
The waits were that long, and those companies would consider any provider who could deliver.

— Piotr Tomasik, Forbes.com, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of waits

Noun

On another front, because red diesel is currently distributed primarily through agricultural cooperatives and specialized fueling hubs, expanding its throughput across mainstream highway truck stops presents immediate operational hurdles.

— , CNBC, 7 Oct. 2026
Textile-to-textile recycling may still face technology hurdles, but its biggest obstacle to scale is increasingly financial.

— Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of hurdles

Noun

All suites on the second floor come without steps and barriers (and spacious bathrooms but not specifically adapted with accessibility features).

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2026
Compliance checks would ensure trading entities maintain informational barriers with their sibling exchange, including the use of separate physical offices.

— Dan Bernstein, Sportico.com, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of barriers

Noun

Sitting around a table in the soundstage where the pilot for I Love Lucy was filmed, the six of them tailored the roles to the actors and infused the script with arguments, embarrassments, and confessions from their own relationships.

— Eliana Dockterman, Time, 26 June 2026
The order to whitewash America’s historic sites of anything less than rosy about the nation’s past has led to some predictable embarrassments.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 3 June 2026

Definition of embarrassments

Browse Nearby Words

hold back

holdbacks

hold down

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“Holdbacks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/holdbacks. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of holdbacks

noun

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