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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in stifling
to refrain from openly showing or uttering
held back her tears until she was alone
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 holding back
And more pressure is coming from powerful education groups because Newsom is holding back some school funds that the constitution requires to be paid.
—
Dan Walters, Mercury News, 28 May 2026
Smaller drones are also holding back Russian troops along the 1,250-kilometer (780-mile) front line and disrupting the supply lines of Russia’s invading army, Western analysts and officials say.
—ABC News, 27 May 2026
The business of women’s sports is growing fast, but media rights revenues still pale in comparison with major men’s leagues, holding back salaries.
—Hank Tucker, Forbes.com, 22 May 2026
Prosecutors are seeking a 41-month prison sentence, and Perry's family isn't holding back.
—Marina Watts, Entertainment Weekly, 21 May 2026
Jack Antonoff isn’t holding back on his thoughts on music makers who use artificial intelligence.
—Carly Thomas, HollywoodReporter, 14 May 2026
Plus, Superjumbo has been holding back on things like listening parties and has turned down artists that wanted to do in-store performances because of the limited space, according to Mancuso.
—R. Christian Smith, Chicago Tribune, 1 May 2026
The art world has been in a recession for 15 years, galleries are closing, young collectors are holding back, and artists trying to make it in the major market centers are living on the brink of poverty.
—Magnus Resch, ARTnews.com, 27 Apr. 2026
As each mourner spoke, some holding back tears and others sobbing, Metayer’s family watched in loving silence.
—Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 4 Apr. 2026
Dan Walters, Mercury News, 28 May 2026
Smaller drones are also holding back Russian troops along the 1,250-kilometer (780-mile) front line and disrupting the supply lines of Russia’s invading army, Western analysts and officials say.
—ABC News, 27 May 2026
The business of women’s sports is growing fast, but media rights revenues still pale in comparison with major men’s leagues, holding back salaries.
—Hank Tucker, Forbes.com, 22 May 2026
Prosecutors are seeking a 41-month prison sentence, and Perry's family isn't holding back.
—Marina Watts, Entertainment Weekly, 21 May 2026
Jack Antonoff isn’t holding back on his thoughts on music makers who use artificial intelligence.
—Carly Thomas, HollywoodReporter, 14 May 2026
Plus, Superjumbo has been holding back on things like listening parties and has turned down artists that wanted to do in-store performances because of the limited space, according to Mancuso.
—R. Christian Smith, Chicago Tribune, 1 May 2026
The art world has been in a recession for 15 years, galleries are closing, young collectors are holding back, and artists trying to make it in the major market centers are living on the brink of poverty.
—Magnus Resch, ARTnews.com, 27 Apr. 2026
As each mourner spoke, some holding back tears and others sobbing, Metayer’s family watched in loving silence.
—Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 4 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for holding back
Verb
-
The authorities also required journalists to obtain a permit to report on the outbreak, impeding their work.—
Justin Kabumba,
Los Angeles Times,
22 May 2026
-
Advertisement More than 600 defendants were accused of assaulting or impeding law enforcement officers during the riot, and nearly 175 were accused of using dangerous or deadly weapons.—
Nik Popli,
Time,
19 May 2026
Verb
-
Players from the top European teams, like Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain, had already played sixty matches during their regular seasons, before taking to pitches in heat-dome temperatures of ninety-seven degrees and stifling humidity.—
Sam Knight,
New Yorker,
1 June 2026
-
Everyone was very, very, very religious, but specifically Christianity and Catholicism, which in my opinion are very stifling religions that are very God-fearing.—
Louis Staples,
Glamour,
27 May 2026
Verb
-
Deep mistrust among some people in the town is hampering response efforts to the outbreak of the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola virus — for which there is no vaccine.—
Emmet Livingstone,
NPR,
28 May 2026
-
Kojan, who has been involved in fighting previous Ebola outbreaks in central and western Africa and is president of the Alliance for International Medical Action, said deep mistrust within some local communities is hampering efforts to contain the virus.—
Tom Soufi Burridge,
ABC News,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
That is hindering efforts to stop the spread of the virus and track those at risk in an area already wracked by conflict and with poor health infrastructure, health officials said.—
Jennifer Rigby,
USA Today,
28 May 2026
-
Teams become less thoughtful as members avoid sharing ideas to escape critique, hindering collective learning and experimentation.—
Benjamin Laker,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2026
Verb
-
Identifying and naming my jealousy has done far more for me than suppressing it ever did.—
Meehika Barua,
Time,
29 May 2026
-
The platform then identifies what is suppressing that number and maps a concrete path to close it, whether through negotiation positioning, skill prioritization or career moves that maximize earning trajectory.—
Ascend Agency,
Chicago Tribune,
27 May 2026
Verb
-
One very rare risk is Naegleria fowleri, which can infect people when contaminated warm freshwater enters the nose—not from swallowing water.—
Mira Miller,
Verywell Health,
1 June 2026
-
Avoid swallowing water or getting it up your nose while swimming to lower your risk of giardia and other waterborne parasites.—
Justin Laube,
EverydayHealth.com,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
Then to Sydney Harbour, the very scene of that embarrassing capsize exactly a year earlier, and the Americans won the event outright for a first win since October 2023.—
Andrew Rice,
New York Times,
29 May 2026
-
Lutnick's voluntary closed-door interview comes amid a monthslong procession of powerful people summoned before the committee, many of whom have been subjected to embarrassing revelations in the more than 3 million pages of records known as the Epstein files.—
Graham Kates,
CBS News,
6 May 2026
Verb
-
Nearly 40% of calls handled by Sacramento’s emergency medical services system were non-emergencies, tying up ambulances and paramedics, delaying urgent medical responses and adding nearly $5 million in costs to the city, according to a city audit.—
Reeti Malhotra
May 29,
Sacbee.com,
29 May 2026
-
As many spread awareness to avoid tying up a dog outside, Ezra's owner is hoping someone can help.—
Sarah Horbacewicz,
CBS News,
19 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Holding back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/holding%20back. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
