1
as in turning back
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2
as in putting off
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Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for holding off
Verb
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Week 4 highlights featured Willow Glen’s comeback win over Christopher, Foothill’s Max Shuga making an amazing catch to set up the winning touchdown against San Leandro, Piedmont turning back Aragon, De La Salle holding off Grant-Sacramento and more.—
Darren Sabedra,
Mercury News,
21 Sep. 2025 -
Advertisement Advertisement Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam have said there is no turning back on this project, despite staunch opposition from Hezbollah.—
Bilal Y. Saab,
Time,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
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While automakers are putting off and/or cancelling vehicles that only run on electrons, given high development costs and a weak market, Subaru is confident in the direction it is headed.—
Eileen Falkenberg-Hull,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Sep. 2025
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Similarly, white Americans are nearly four times as likely to skip or delay vaccinating their children compared to Asian Americans, with 19 percent and 5 percent, respectively, forgoing or putting off inoculating their kids, according to the poll.—
Alejandra O’Connell-Domenech,
The Hill,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Students from the kingdom are increasingly turning away from US universities in particular, put off by a mix of hostile immigration policies, concerns over gun violence, and the kingdom’s own push to grow its domestic education sector.—
Manal Albarakati,
semafor.com,
26 Sep. 2025
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Local solar installers are now fully booked and turning away new customers ahead of the December 31 deadline.—
Francesca Pica,
jsonline.com,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
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After breaking off the engagement, Cochran said, Glison had moved to the apartment complex to get away from him.—
Samira Asma-Sadeque,
PEOPLE,
24 Sep. 2025
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Johnson then carried the ball on the last four plays, breaking off carries of eight, nine and 10 yards.—
Patrick Z. McGavin,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Debt is quietly dictating the choices parents make for their families every day, from skipping meals to shelving college savings plans for their children.—
Suzanne Blake,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Aug. 2025
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Inspectors found grease and debris buildup below all cooking equipment, on shelving throughout the kitchen and the floor and wall below the warewash and prep sink.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
22 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Consider postponing boating activities on the lake until a day with less wind.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
29 Sep. 2025
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Parton missing a Dollywood event isn't entirely unusual, but postponing by nearly a year what was meant to be her return to Vegas after nearly three decades since her last extended run in the city has raised eyebrows.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
28 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Executing a cartwheel requires strong and responsive actuators, joints capable of withstanding sudden loads, and motion-planning algorithms precise enough to keep the body balanced during rapid weight shifts.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
22 Sep. 2025
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Nat Geo’s team used in-cockpit cameras capable of withstanding extreme vibration and G-forces to place viewers right inside the action.—
Tony Bradley,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Grand Canyon National Park spokeswoman Joelle Baird did not say how a shutdown would impact the park, deferring questions to a National Park Service media line.—
Michael Salerno,
AZCentral.com,
27 Sep. 2025
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The panel chose not to take a vote on whether to recommend the shot for pregnant women, deferring the decision to CDC officials, Retsef Levi, a member of the advisory committee, said during the meeting.—
Erika Edwards,
NBC news,
19 Sep. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Holding off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/holding%20off. Accessed 30 Sep. 2025.
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