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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One thing that particularly excited him was turning back the clock for exteriors on New York’s Lower East Side, where the tight shooting schedule often required the art department to transform locations as quickly as possible.—
Jim Hemphill,
IndieWire,
6 Jan. 2026 -
There’s turning back up until the deed is done.—
Kate Aurthur,
Variety,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Experts attribute the drop-off to rising costs and economic uncertainty, as Americans are increasingly putting off travel plans or opting for road trips over flights.—
Maia Pandey,
jsonline.com,
5 Nov. 2025
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All of the backup plans that people are preparing to enact - borrowing, trying to visit food banks, putting off other bills - have their own costs and downstream effects.—
Aliss Higham,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Elaine Chuli made 14 saves, with Raygan Kirk turning away two shots in relief in the third period.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
30 Dec. 2025
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But recent election results suggest trouble for the Republicans, with voters who fueled their gains in 2024 turning away from the party.—
Martha McHardy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Once enough cars have sped over these fissures, chunks begin breaking off to create those infamous potholes that pop tires and ruin shocks.—
Andrew Paul,
Popular Science,
29 Oct. 2025
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Weiss made a career for herself as an op-ed staff editor at The New York Times before breaking off from the mainstream publication in 2020 and launching the Free Press.—
Antonio Ferme,
Variety,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The ceiling and walls are connected with spidery shelving brackets, decorated in the same style as the black webby legs of his desk.—
Clare Mulroy,
USA Today,
31 Oct. 2025
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But city leaders ultimately decided against it, with Azevedo and Aguilar being the lone pair to cast a vote against shelving the matter.—
Jakob Rodgers,
Mercury News,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Consider postponing boating activities on the lake until a day with less wind.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
7 Jan. 2026
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Trump signed a proclamation hours before the end of 2025, postponing the tariff hikes on these items, which were originally due to take effect on Thursday.—
John Liu,
CNN Money,
1 Jan. 2026
Verb
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And there’s even a secret 46 percent discount on the trending Hunter boots, made with long-lasting cushioning and waterproof construction designed for withstanding wintery conditions in comfort.—
Julia Morlino,
Travel + Leisure,
26 Dec. 2025
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Pearsall caught six passes for 96 yards against the Titans, withstanding an early ankle sprain and playing well before the re-injuring his PCL.—
Jerry McDonald,
Mercury News,
20 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Newsom's office previously provided a statement to Fox News Digital, deferring responsibility for the situation to the CIF, CDE and state legislature.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
23 Oct. 2025
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Had Darnold not crumbled in the postseason, re-signing him to a multi-year deal and deferring McCarthy to a three-year development plan would have been reasonable.—
Trevor Squire,
MSNBC Newsweek,
2 Oct. 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 9 Jan. 2026.
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