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
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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
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Recent Examples of holdbacks
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
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
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If a fetus becomes infected, toxoplasmosis can lead to a range of health problems, including premature birth, low birth weight, jaundice or other liver problems, abnormal blood counts, rashes, eye disease, developmental delays, seizures, brain calcification, and in extreme cases, stillbirth.—
Dr. Megan Yanny,
Boston Herald,
31 May 2026
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Fontainebleau Las Vegas opened in late 2023, after years of construction delays, and quickly took its place as a resort built for a different kind of Vegas visitor.—
Winston Ross,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2026
Noun
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That disconnect is beginning to create what could become the new trust economy—one in which governance, authentication, transparency and accountability become strategic advantages for the companies in this space, rather than just operational or compliance obstacles.—
Jacques Ledbetter,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2026
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His fragile starman is a strange, complex being navigating his way through Earth’s obstacles, including love, lust, addiction, greed, and ambition in his plight to save his planet and survive the chaos caused by his arrival.—
Jeff Spry,
Space.com,
29 May 2026
Noun
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Unsurprisingly, sci-fi and fantasy titles that require considerable VFX work tend to be the shows that have the longest waits.—
James Hibberd,
HollywoodReporter,
27 May 2026
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More people are flying this year than last Memorial Day, per AAA, which could mean longer lines and further waits at some airports.—
Nathan Diller,
USA Today,
25 May 2026
Noun
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China race accelerates The investment comes as Nvidia faces growing regulatory hurdles in selling to the mainland Chinese market.—
Evelyn Cheng,
CNBC,
27 May 2026
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In short, there are a lot of hurdles.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
27 May 2026
Noun
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Of the photons of light that avoid clouds of dust and other deep-space obstructions to reach our planet, most don’t make it through Earth’s thick atmosphere, let alone through a telescope’s loss-prone optics.—
K. R. Callaway,
Scientific American,
27 May 2026
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Water causes cotton to expand rather than dissolve, which can create obstructions in pipes.—
Emily Benda Gaylord,
The Spruce,
21 May 2026
Noun
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Removing barriers for non-traditional students like prohibitive costs or complicated admissions and financial aid processes is one way to improve access, said Lane, who helps create the commission’s enrollment reports.—
Elizabeth Hernandez,
Denver Post,
31 May 2026
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Additionally, opposition parties have reported political repression and administrative barriers.—
Nimi Princewill,
CNN Money,
31 May 2026
Noun
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The professional embarrassments even take place at the level of state supreme courts.—
Martin Kaste,
NPR,
3 Apr. 2026
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That’s not only because judges are fining more lawyers for their laziness, but because the publicity about these embarrassments has been inescapable.—
Business Columnist,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Holdbacks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/holdbacks. Accessed 2 Jun. 2026.
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