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
The video shows a security guard holding back a male security guard who is moving toward a young man who throws his backpack on the ground, and appears ready to fight as the woman is being handcuffed.
—
Charlotte Observer, 12 Mar. 2026
Productivity is rising, but slow deployment is holding back capacity.
—Paul S. Lavoie, Hartford Courant, 11 Mar. 2026
The Hungarian government has recently accused Kyiv of deliberately holding back Russian oil deliveries through the pipeline, which crosses Ukraine's territory.
—Arkansas Online, 5 Mar. 2026
The Hungarian government has recently accused Kyiv of deliberately holding back Russian oil deliveries through the pipeline, which crosses Ukraine’s territory.
—ABC News, 4 Mar. 2026
Some businesses may also be holding back on adding jobs out of uncertainty about whether AI will enable them to produce more without finding new employees.
—Matt Ott, Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 2026
Some businesses may also be holding back on adding jobs out of uncertainty about whether artificial intelligence will enable them to produce more without finding new employees.
—Christopher Rugaber, Fortune, 20 Feb. 2026
There have been performances this year where Cowan has been holding back the tears, unable to separate himself from the emotion.
—Ben Church, CNN Money, 19 Feb. 2026
Smith, the playwright, isn’t holding back her enthusiasm for the source material.
—Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 13 Feb. 2026
Charlotte Observer, 12 Mar. 2026
Productivity is rising, but slow deployment is holding back capacity.
—Paul S. Lavoie, Hartford Courant, 11 Mar. 2026
The Hungarian government has recently accused Kyiv of deliberately holding back Russian oil deliveries through the pipeline, which crosses Ukraine's territory.
—Arkansas Online, 5 Mar. 2026
The Hungarian government has recently accused Kyiv of deliberately holding back Russian oil deliveries through the pipeline, which crosses Ukraine’s territory.
—ABC News, 4 Mar. 2026
Some businesses may also be holding back on adding jobs out of uncertainty about whether AI will enable them to produce more without finding new employees.
—Matt Ott, Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 2026
Some businesses may also be holding back on adding jobs out of uncertainty about whether artificial intelligence will enable them to produce more without finding new employees.
—Christopher Rugaber, Fortune, 20 Feb. 2026
There have been performances this year where Cowan has been holding back the tears, unable to separate himself from the emotion.
—Ben Church, CNN Money, 19 Feb. 2026
Smith, the playwright, isn’t holding back her enthusiasm for the source material.
—Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 13 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for holding back
Verb
-
The indictment includes the conspiracy count, which carries a maximum sentence of six years in federal prison, as well as several other counts of forcibly impeding a federal officer, each punishable by up to one year in federal prison.—
Jason Meisner,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Bridges on the trail include porches so visitors can pause and admire views without impeding others passing through.—
John Meyer,
Denver Post,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Though some have argued that China’s abundant energy and manufacturing capacity give it an edge in the global AI race, Chinese executives say Washington’s restrictions on sales of the most advanced semiconductors are stifling the country’s AI development.—
Jeronimo Gonzalez,
semafor.com,
13 Mar. 2026
-
But both clubs were involved in the Club World Cup in the summer, playing in stifling heat.—
James Horncastle,
New York Times,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
But then the team lost Kevin Fiala for the rest of the season to a fractured leg in the Olympic tournament and saw winger Andrei Kuzmenko undergo surgery last week to repair torn meniscus in his right knee, hampering an offense that ranks 28th in the 32-team league in goals.—
Kevin Baxter,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Public frustration over the district’s academic performance reached a boiling point in August 2024, when Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker spoke at a school board meeting, saying the district’s poor performance was hampering students’ opportunities after high school.—
Silas Allen,
Dallas Morning News,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
However, tariff threats from the US — Nigeria’s third-largest export market — and inflationary pressures caused by the war in Iran risk hindering that progress.—
Jeronimo Gonzalez,
semafor.com,
19 Mar. 2026
-
High new housing inventory, together with elevated construction costs because of import tariffs and shortages of labor due to an immigration crackdown are hindering single-family home construction.—
Reuters
Wire Service,
Dallas Morning News,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Kamphoff advises that parents model productive behavior to show kids how to manage their negative emotions, rather than suppressing them.—
Tom Huddleston Jr.,
CNBC,
13 Mar. 2026
-
The deportations to Eswatini, a tiny kingdom bordering South Africa, where the king has full power and has been accused of suppressing pro-democracy movements, have sparked protests from civic groups there.—
Nokukhanya Musi,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Symptoms usually begin six hours to six days after swallowing the bacteria.—
GMA Team,
ABC News,
17 Mar. 2026
-
Last year’s best actor, Adrien Brody, made amends for flinging chewing gum at his wife by swallowing a fresh wad of it (and his pride).—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
These are embarrassing own goals that Republicans simply can’t afford.—
S.E. Cupp,
New York Daily News,
4 Mar. 2026
-
Fairchild played the free-wheeling bon vivant Nora Tyler Bing on five episodes of the sitcom classic, unwittingly embarrassing Perry's Chandler Bing to the delight of his pals.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
That high mortgage payment reduces monthly cash flow, tying up more income that might otherwise be used for other investments.—
Jeff Lazerson,
Oc Register,
26 Feb. 2026
-
Instead of tying up resources on certain things, perhaps a drone and then the AI assistant, for a phone call, can handle that situation.—
Ryan Oehrli
Updated February 20,
Charlotte Observer,
20 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Holding back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/holding%20back. Accessed 20 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
