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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of holding back
Blanche declined to comment on whether there was still an ongoing investigation related to Epstein's associates, and pushed back on allegations that the Department is selectively holding back files that might be damaging to the President, who has a long history with Epstein going back decades.
—
Philip Wang, Time, 30 Jan. 2026
Celebrity Skin follows, and so does the eventual alienation of anyone Courtney thinks is holding back her ascent into the stratosphere.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 28 Jan. 2026
For decades, business leaders have complained that California’s regulatory climate has overburdened companies across the state, blaming a morass of rules, permits and paperwork for pushing businesses and jobs out of state and holding back economic growth.
—Ethan Varian, Mercury News, 23 Jan. 2026
In court filings and a hearing earlier Friday, the states contended that the government did not have a legal reason for holding back the money from those states.
—Geoff Mulvihill, Twin Cities, 10 Jan. 2026
Former New York City Mayor Eric Adams isn’t holding back in his response to Andy Cohen‘s criticism during Wednesday night’s CNN’s New Year’s Eve Live special with Anderson Cooper.
—Lexi Carson, HollywoodReporter, 2 Jan. 2026
And even if the Senate and House fully fund NOAA, Sokich said the administration could continue holding back the funds.
—Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 9 Nov. 2025
Honest conversations are also unavoidable, especially for those of you who have been holding back your true feelings.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 6 Nov. 2025
Firms that had stayed disciplined during the post-pandemic liquidity rush — holding back from inflated valuations and cheap leverage — are the ones outperforming, according to Bae.
—Anniek Bao, CNBC, 5 Nov. 2025
Philip Wang, Time, 30 Jan. 2026
Celebrity Skin follows, and so does the eventual alienation of anyone Courtney thinks is holding back her ascent into the stratosphere.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 28 Jan. 2026
For decades, business leaders have complained that California’s regulatory climate has overburdened companies across the state, blaming a morass of rules, permits and paperwork for pushing businesses and jobs out of state and holding back economic growth.
—Ethan Varian, Mercury News, 23 Jan. 2026
In court filings and a hearing earlier Friday, the states contended that the government did not have a legal reason for holding back the money from those states.
—Geoff Mulvihill, Twin Cities, 10 Jan. 2026
Former New York City Mayor Eric Adams isn’t holding back in his response to Andy Cohen‘s criticism during Wednesday night’s CNN’s New Year’s Eve Live special with Anderson Cooper.
—Lexi Carson, HollywoodReporter, 2 Jan. 2026
And even if the Senate and House fully fund NOAA, Sokich said the administration could continue holding back the funds.
—Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 9 Nov. 2025
Honest conversations are also unavoidable, especially for those of you who have been holding back your true feelings.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 6 Nov. 2025
Firms that had stayed disciplined during the post-pandemic liquidity rush — holding back from inflated valuations and cheap leverage — are the ones outperforming, according to Bae.
—Anniek Bao, CNBC, 5 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for holding back
Verb
-
Lemon was charged violating federal laws by impeding the First Amendment right to freedom of religion.—
Bethy Squires,
Vulture,
31 Jan. 2026
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On social media, the administration has accused people of violently attacking federal immigration agents or impeding operations.—
Jude Joffe-Block,
NPR,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Just two days after the Colorado Avalanche came into Detroit and rolled to a 5-0 win, the Red Wings returned the favor with a stifling defensive performance to win 2-0 in Denver.—
Max Bultman,
New York Times,
3 Feb. 2026
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Playing rival McCallum roughly 24 hours after the game was postponed from Friday night due to water issues at the Knights' campus, the Trojans used a stifling second-half defensive effort for a 46-35 win at Burger Center to take a two-game lead in the district standings.—
Colby Gordon,
Austin American Statesman,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The wintry blast, after hampering malls and stores Sunday, is making travel challenging Monday with roads still presenting treacherous conditions, coated by a mixture of frozen precipitation.—
Brian Womack,
Dallas Morning News,
26 Jan. 2026
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Elon Musk warned the biggest issue hampering AI advancement in the United States is a problem Chinese competitors don’t have.—
Sasha Rogelberg,
Fortune,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Instead, the gases compete with each other, with the presence of one gas actually hindering the adsorption, or trapping, of the others.—
Natalia Sánchez Loayza,
Scientific American,
29 Jan. 2026
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While the city’s downtown high-rise program has helped add three projects totaling 1,226 units, only one building has been constructed in the past few years, hindering the city’s long-term vision of increasing density and making the area a true mixed-use neighborhood.—
Devan Patel,
Mercury News,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The nerves that Landfair had been suppressing only show as the interview winds down, letting out a relieved and shaky breath after answering the last question.—
Cheyenne Roundtree,
Rolling Stone,
31 Jan. 2026
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Outside the cell, the ATP is converted into adenosine, which acts on neurons — in this case, by exciting neurons that inhibit swimming and suppressing swim neurons.—
Ingrid Wickelgren,
Quanta Magazine,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The Marvel cinematic universe has a reputation for swallowing up directors and stripping them of any of their personal artistic sensibilities in favor of the MCU’s house style.—
James Grebey,
Vulture,
31 Jan. 2026
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Wang emphasizes that accidentally swallowing an occasional lemon or grapefruit seed poses no meaningful risk for healthy adults.—
Stacey Lastoe,
Southern Living,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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An unwritten rule of the NBA, it is generally viewed as a sign of respect to run out the clock rather than risk embarrassing an opponent.—
Chris Biderman,
Sacbee.com,
31 Jan. 2026
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Recently, Ryan spoke about the Beckham situation, the process of writing material as a mother without embarrassing her kids and her new goal of returning to the career trajectory of her pre-pregnant self in the near future.—
Deputy Entertainment,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Mercury retrograde later in the month encourages solitude, forgiveness, and tying up loose emotional ends.—
Dossé-Via Trenou,
Refinery29,
29 Jan. 2026
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His strategies often involve exploiting legal loopholes and tying up loose ends in court.—
Gavin J. Quinton,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Holding back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/holding%20back. Accessed 6 Feb. 2026.
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