holdbacks

noun

plural of holdback
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

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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

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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 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
  1. delays
  2. obstacles
  3. waits
  4. hurdles
  5. obstructions
  6. barriers
  7. embarrassments
Noun
  • Some parents are also experiencing delays in receiving the initial $1,000.
    — Erik Sherman, Forbes.com, 26 July 2026
  • Such seamless information flow is expected to reduce production delays, improve quality control and optimize resource allocation across complex shipbuilding projects.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 25 July 2026
Definition of delays
Noun
  • The hero’s victory comes not from acquiring gold but from confronting inner obstacles and emerging with a deeper understanding of themselves.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 24 July 2026
  • Lack of trust and resistance from locals remain one of the biggest obstacles to containing the outbreak, according to authorities and health workers.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 23 July 2026
Definition of obstacles
Noun
  • Families should be able to access testing and diagnosis without months-long waits or insurance barriers.
    — Eliza Goldwasser, New York Daily News, 20 July 2026
  • In the meantime, a fanbase waits and worries, wondering whether the business of basketball will lead to no NBA basketball in Portland in 2031.
    — Jason Quick, New York Times, 20 July 2026
Definition of waits
Noun
  • Unfortunately, there have been a few hurdles with getting more than 13,000 pounds of candy through the border.
    — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 July 2026
  • Despite these hurdles, industry experts believe these new strategies are essential for consistent reach in 2026.
    — Boaz Sobrado, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026
Definition of hurdles
Noun
  • Cameras mounted on city vehicles and Chicago Transit Authority buses capture the obstructions, and tickets are issued by the city’s Department of Finance.
    — A.D. Quig, Chicago Tribune, 19 July 2026
  • Also, check to ensure the work material is free of any obstructions from underneath.
    — Timothy Dale, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 July 2026
Definition of obstructions
Noun
  • The data reaches only people who use cards and apps, and the hardest barriers are consent, privacy law and access to records held by companies rather than health agencies.
    — John Drake, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026
  • The venue launched careers, broke genre barriers, and helped cement Austin’s identity as the Live Music Capital of the World.
    — Katie Campione, Deadline, 21 July 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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Cite this Entry

“Holdbacks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/holdbacks. Accessed 31 Jul. 2026.

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