1
as in impeding
to create difficulty for the work or activity of
the only thing holding them back from joining the swim team is lack of transportation
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in stifling
to refrain from openly showing or uttering
held back her tears until she was alone
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of holding back
The Hungarian government has recently accused Kyiv of deliberately holding back Russian oil deliveries through the pipeline, which crosses Ukraine's territory.
—
Arkansas Online, 5 Mar. 2026
The Hungarian government has recently accused Kyiv of deliberately holding back Russian oil deliveries through the pipeline, which crosses Ukraine’s territory.
—ABC News, 4 Mar. 2026
Some businesses may also be holding back on adding jobs out of uncertainty about whether AI will enable them to produce more without finding new employees.
—Matt Ott, Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 2026
Some businesses may also be holding back on adding jobs out of uncertainty about whether artificial intelligence will enable them to produce more without finding new employees.
—Christopher Rugaber, Fortune, 20 Feb. 2026
There have been performances this year where Cowan has been holding back the tears, unable to separate himself from the emotion.
—Ben Church, CNN Money, 19 Feb. 2026
Smith, the playwright, isn’t holding back her enthusiasm for the source material.
—Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 13 Feb. 2026
Pistons veteran Tobias Harris was holding back Diabate, when the latter threw a punch at Duren, escalating the whole situation.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 10 Feb. 2026
Two temporary rulings had been issued in January that blocked the federal government from holding back the funding, with the latest set to expire on Friday.
—Geoff Mulvihill, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2026
Arkansas Online, 5 Mar. 2026
The Hungarian government has recently accused Kyiv of deliberately holding back Russian oil deliveries through the pipeline, which crosses Ukraine’s territory.
—ABC News, 4 Mar. 2026
Some businesses may also be holding back on adding jobs out of uncertainty about whether AI will enable them to produce more without finding new employees.
—Matt Ott, Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 2026
Some businesses may also be holding back on adding jobs out of uncertainty about whether artificial intelligence will enable them to produce more without finding new employees.
—Christopher Rugaber, Fortune, 20 Feb. 2026
There have been performances this year where Cowan has been holding back the tears, unable to separate himself from the emotion.
—Ben Church, CNN Money, 19 Feb. 2026
Smith, the playwright, isn’t holding back her enthusiasm for the source material.
—Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 13 Feb. 2026
Pistons veteran Tobias Harris was holding back Diabate, when the latter threw a punch at Duren, escalating the whole situation.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 10 Feb. 2026
Two temporary rulings had been issued in January that blocked the federal government from holding back the funding, with the latest set to expire on Friday.
—Geoff Mulvihill, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for holding back
Verb
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The incident resulted in a ticket for impeding traffic, for which she was ordered to pay $197 after pleading no contest in Orange County court on Monday.—
Cristóbal Reyes,
The Orlando Sentinel,
5 Mar. 2026
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Gomez was standing to Hermansen’s right, and Ibrahima Konate to his left, but neither seemed to be impeding any less than Robertson had been deemed to be against City.—
Tom Burrows,
New York Times,
28 Feb. 2026
Verb
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But waning financial support, due in part to a animal rights group targeting national sponsors, has shrunk the purse while inflation is stifling young mushers trying to make a go of it.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
10 Mar. 2026
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With no discernable reason beyond intimidation, Hasner approved this staggering waste of taxpayer funds, stifling the First Amendment right of peaceable assembly.—
Karen J. Leader,
Sun Sentinel,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
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But then the team lost Kevin Fiala for the rest of the season to a fractured leg in the Olympic tournament and saw winger Andrei Kuzmenko undergo surgery last week to repair torn meniscus in his right knee, hampering an offense that ranks 28th in the 32-team league in goals.—
Kevin Baxter,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
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Public frustration over the district’s academic performance reached a boiling point in August 2024, when Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker spoke at a school board meeting, saying the district’s poor performance was hampering students’ opportunities after high school.—
Silas Allen,
Dallas Morning News,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
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California law restricts when local enforcement can coordinate with ICE in making such arrests, and federal officials and Republicans have assailed the policy for hindering immigration enforcement.—
Ethan Varian,
Mercury News,
8 Mar. 2026
-
The lawsuit accuses them of concealing climate research and hindering the adoption of renewable energy technologies.—
Taylor Millard,
Boston Herald,
28 Feb. 2026
Verb
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In my case, treatment looks like temporarily suppressing the adenomyosis with Lupron injections before attempting another embryo transfer to create the best possible environment for implantation.—
L'Oreal Thompson Payton,
SELF,
6 Mar. 2026
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Meanwhile, the Islamic Republic was violently suppressing antigovernment protests across the country.—
Eric Cortellessa,
Time,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
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However, people with swallowing issues could be in danger due to weaker muscle tone and a loss of sensory input, Duyka said.—
Sandee LaMotte,
CNN Money,
10 Mar. 2026
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Bella Hadid, however, has been bucking this trend throughout her time in Paris and beyond, largely opting for denim that highlights her footwear rather than swallowing them up.—
Emily Tannenbaum,
Glamour,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
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These are embarrassing own goals that Republicans simply can’t afford.—
S.E. Cupp,
New York Daily News,
4 Mar. 2026
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Fairchild played the free-wheeling bon vivant Nora Tyler Bing on five episodes of the sitcom classic, unwittingly embarrassing Perry's Chandler Bing to the delight of his pals.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
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That high mortgage payment reduces monthly cash flow, tying up more income that might otherwise be used for other investments.—
Jeff Lazerson,
Oc Register,
26 Feb. 2026
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Instead of tying up resources on certain things, perhaps a drone and then the AI assistant, for a phone call, can handle that situation.—
Ryan Oehrli
Updated February 20,
Charlotte Observer,
20 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Holding back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/holding%20back. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
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