HOLDING BACK Synonyms: 109 Similar and Opposite Words

holding back

verb

present participle of hold back

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 Logs can do the job of beaver dams holding back and spreading a stream. — Brandon Loomis, AZCentral.com, 8 Sep. 2026 Nine weeks before the midterms, House Republicans aren’t holding back their criticism of the president’s latest tariff moves. — Eleanor Mueller, semafor.com, 3 Sep. 2026 In 2023, thawing permafrost led to a rock collapse into South Lhonak Lake in Sikkim, India, generating a wave that burst through the moraine holding back the glacial lake. — Umesh Haritashya, The Conversation, 29 Aug. 2026 Iris Skrami, chief executive officer of Renoon, said many companies are still holding back on their DPP work. — Evan Clark, Footwear News, 28 Aug. 2026 The figure was significantly higher than analysts’ 44% estimate, but Huang and Nvidia CFO Colette Kress specified that there were still heavy supply constraints holding back the $5 trillion chipmaker. — Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 27 Aug. 2026 According to the Pew Research Center, roughly one in four Americans 50 and older has used a dating app or site — and women in midlife aren’t holding back. — Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 21 Aug. 2026 Marsh was a fearless critic, rarely holding back even with his most caustic and controversial views. — Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 15 Aug. 2026 The Legislature’s two appropriation committees do not hold public votes before advancing or holding back measures on their desk. — Andrew Graham, Sacbee.com, 13 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for holding back

Verb

Materials such as Nafion can densely surround catalysts at the nanoscale, impeding the rapid transport of protons to reaction sites.

— Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 11 Sep. 2026
But what if the longer wavelengths of the embers could both extend the hours of socializing without heavily impeding our sleep cycle?

— Mike McRae September 02, New Atlas, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of impeding

Verb

After that, the Lake Nona defense cranked up the heat – pressuring both Cruz James and Joe Aicher and stifling running back Jaelyn Powell for the rest of the game.

— Buddy Collings, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 Sep. 2026
On paper, this sounds great, as being untethered from the restraints and stifling confines of physical cords frees you up to live a more fulfilled digital life.

— William Jones, jsonline.com, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of stifling

Verb

Davis was unable to hear my questions, which required me to hold them up to the screen, hampering back-and-forth response.

— Jeff Weiss, HollywoodReporter, 5 Sep. 2026
Birds visiting the feeder can get the goo on their wings, hampering their ability to fly and possibly leading to their untimely deaths.

— Joan Morris, Mercury News, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of hampering

Verb

Sally’s Reckoning With Her Magic Much of the sequel’s emotional arc, per Hoffman, belongs to Sally finally making peace with the very power she’s spent decades suppressing.

— Lexy Perez, HollywoodReporter, 10 Sep. 2026
The party is often lauded for steering the tiny nation toward economic prosperity but has also been criticized for suppressing dissent.

— John Liu, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of suppressing

Verb

And some projects like hydro dams may be permanently shelved, hindering Nepal’s ambitions to diversify its economy by exporting energy to neighbors like India and Bangladesh.

— Stephanie Yang, CNN Money, 11 Sep. 2026
The motion helpfully offers an example of how a hindering information document could have been properly written.

— Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of hindering

Verb

As Silicon Valley remakes the world yet again, swallowing up our water and spiking our electricity bills, homelessness remains endemic to that region of California.

— Piper French, The New York Review of Books, 5 Sep. 2026
Officials added that people cannot become infected with Naegleria fowleri by swallowing contaminated water; however, the amoeba can enter the body when it is forcefully introduced, such as through the nose into the brain.

— Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of swallowing

Verb

The comprehensive regimen is meant to uncover any prior criminal conduct in an applicant’s past as well as embarrassing personal information that could make an employee vulnerable to blackmail.

— Eric Tucker, Fortune, 29 Aug. 2026
Since then, Hochman has been slammed for playing politics, embarrassing his office and even backing down for no reason other than the pressure was too intense.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026