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
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Recent Examples of holding back
None of this is holding back the wider push.
—
Dara-Abasi Ita, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026
There was no holding back on the project’s ambition.
—Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 2 June 2026
And more pressure is coming from powerful education groups because Newsom is holding back some school funds that the constitution requires to be paid.
—Dan Walters, Mercury News, 28 May 2026
Smaller drones are also holding back Russian troops along the 1,250-kilometer (780-mile) front line and disrupting the supply lines of Russia’s invading army, Western analysts and officials say.
—ABC News, 27 May 2026
Prosecutors are seeking a 41-month prison sentence, and Perry's family isn't holding back.
—Marina Watts, Entertainment Weekly, 21 May 2026
Jack Antonoff isn’t holding back on his thoughts on music makers who use artificial intelligence.
—Carly Thomas, HollywoodReporter, 14 May 2026
Plus, Superjumbo has been holding back on things like listening parties and has turned down artists that wanted to do in-store performances because of the limited space, according to Mancuso.
—R. Christian Smith, Chicago Tribune, 1 May 2026
The art world has been in a recession for 15 years, galleries are closing, young collectors are holding back, and artists trying to make it in the major market centers are living on the brink of poverty.
—Magnus Resch, ARTnews.com, 27 Apr. 2026
Dara-Abasi Ita, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026
There was no holding back on the project’s ambition.
—Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 2 June 2026
And more pressure is coming from powerful education groups because Newsom is holding back some school funds that the constitution requires to be paid.
—Dan Walters, Mercury News, 28 May 2026
Smaller drones are also holding back Russian troops along the 1,250-kilometer (780-mile) front line and disrupting the supply lines of Russia’s invading army, Western analysts and officials say.
—ABC News, 27 May 2026
Prosecutors are seeking a 41-month prison sentence, and Perry's family isn't holding back.
—Marina Watts, Entertainment Weekly, 21 May 2026
Jack Antonoff isn’t holding back on his thoughts on music makers who use artificial intelligence.
—Carly Thomas, HollywoodReporter, 14 May 2026
Plus, Superjumbo has been holding back on things like listening parties and has turned down artists that wanted to do in-store performances because of the limited space, according to Mancuso.
—R. Christian Smith, Chicago Tribune, 1 May 2026
The art world has been in a recession for 15 years, galleries are closing, young collectors are holding back, and artists trying to make it in the major market centers are living on the brink of poverty.
—Magnus Resch, ARTnews.com, 27 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for holding back
Verb
-
Prosecutors had until Wednesday to obtain an indictment against Chicago Laugh Factory manager Nathan Griffin, who had been charged with forcibly assaulting, impeding, and interfering with a federal officer.—
Todd Feurer,
CBS News,
3 Dec. 2025
-
Maltos was jailed on charges of felony assault, resisting arrest and impeding a federal officer.—
Joe Marusak,
Charlotte Observer,
24 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
On the flip side, boosting Fox content while stifling everything else could be bad for overall engagement in the long run.—
Brian Welk,
IndieWire,
16 June 2026
-
The issues stifling any boost in consumer comfort with AVs are clear, according to the study.—
Ed Garsten,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2026
Verb
-
Winds of up to 50 mph stoked the flames and severely limited the fire response by hampering boat and aircraft access to the remote island.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
10 June 2026
-
Tension and cross-border fighting has left the border between the two countries closed since October, hampering trade and transportation and stranding thousands of people.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
9 June 2026
Verb
-
The older upper-room technology has been around since the 1930s and was effective at suppressing even measles transmission in classrooms.—
Jasmine Laws,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Dec. 2025
-
But President Patrice Talon has faced accusations of suppressing criticism.—
semafor.com,
semafor.com,
8 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
This structural debt was hindering basic operations and the company’s ability to serve customers, especially as clients’ technology needs evolve.—
Sage Lazzaro,
Fortune,
9 June 2026
-
Last year, probation officials began requiring CLERB to seek court approval before obtaining records in cases involving juveniles — a process former CLERB officials and advocates described as hindering meaningful oversight.—
Kelly Davis,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
31 May 2026
Verb
-
Brandsema explained that humans are born with one pool of motor neurons for life, and SMA slowly robs individuals of their motor neurons over time, leaving them with difficulty walking or running, holding up their heads, or even swallowing food and liquid safely.—
Ciara McCarthy
June 15,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
15 June 2026
-
Parents should quickly seek medical care for an infant who has difficulty swallowing, poor feeding, loss of head control or decreased facial expression, the CDC said.—
Melody Petersen,
Los Angeles Times,
14 June 2026
Verb
-
Don't be afraid of embarrassing yourself.—
Lori A Bashian,
FOXNews.com,
20 May 2026
-
Lutnick's voluntary closed-door interview comes amid a monthslong procession of powerful people summoned before the committee, many of whom have been subjected to embarrassing revelations in the more than 3 million pages of records known as the Epstein files.—
Graham Kates,
CBS News,
6 May 2026
Verb
-
Small vendors are forced to choose between raising prices and losing clients, absorbing the expenses (killing margins), or purchasing more inventory prior to tariff rises (tying up capital).—
Vitalii Savryha,
Sourcing Journal,
21 Oct. 2025
-
Djerf admitted to tying up Patricia and Damien Luna, who were the only ones at home.—
Amanda Lee Myers,
USA Today,
13 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Holding back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/holding%20back. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
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