HOLDING BACK Synonyms: 109 Similar and Opposite Words

holding back

verb

present participle of hold back

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 She is baffled by the way her friends Moe and Fumina rail against their parents, especially when Yuko is always holding back at home, forever walking on eggshells. — Literary Hub, 6 Aug. 2026 The reduction in state investments and holding back promised funding to cover our faculty raises will have detrimental consequences to our institution, to us as students, and to the state’s future health care workforce. — Opinion, Hartford Courant, 5 Aug. 2026 But holding back defers crucial conversations about goals, methods, and the limits of American aid. — Dafna H. Rand, Foreign Affairs, 4 Aug. 2026 Forty-five percent cite fear of becoming replaceable as their reason for holding back, and only 16% believe their company is adopting AI for genuine business value rather than hype or competitive pressure. — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 30 July 2026 The selloff in chip stocks and AI-beneficiaries was holding back the market’s attempt at a rally. — Jeff Marks, CNBC, 27 July 2026 Speculation swirled in March and April that the Mets were holding back to take advantage of dynamic pricing during a hopeful second-half pennant chase. — Kurt Badenhausen, Sportico.com, 23 July 2026 The thinking now is to use our best treatments early instead of holding back. — Dr. Jamin Brahmbhatt, CNN Money, 23 July 2026 While the Illigs are still part of Sporting KC’s day-to-day operations — and maintain their seat on the MLS’ Board of Governors — Mallouk doesn’t seem to be holding back on his own involvement. — Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 15 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for holding back

Verb

Yachua Mauricio Flores, 23, of Lincoln Heights pleaded guilty in late April to one count of obstructing, impeding and interfering with law enforcement officers during civil disorder, the Department of Justice said in a news release.

— Seamus Bozeman, Los Angeles Times, 4 Aug. 2026
Benedict had a prior arrest on a charge of assault on a family or household member by impeding breath or circulation in 2023 in Collin County.

— Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 July 2026

Definition of impeding

Verb

This prompted backlash from critics, who felt that the platforms were stifling free speech or putting their thumb on the scale politically.

— Max Tani, semafor.com, 3 Aug. 2026
The recurring power outages combined with the stifling heat have created collective insomnia on the island as residents struggle to get through the night.

— ABC News, ABC News, 3 Aug. 2026

Definition of stifling

Verb

Delays connecting new power plants to the grid are hampering progress.

— Laurent Belsie, Christian Science Monitor, 4 Aug. 2026
Toub said the only scenario in which a rookie wouldn’t participate in special teams is because of an injury — such as the shoulder issue that’s currently hampering the Chiefs’ first-round draft pick, cornerback Mansoor Delane.

— Pete Sweeney, Kansas City Star, 1 Aug. 2026

Definition of hampering

Verb

He was charged with hindering apprehension, obstruction of justice and tampering with evidence for allegedly helping Azzubair Outen-Fleming leave the area, according to the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office.

— Joe Holden, CBS News, 10 Aug. 2026
Second, reactive homophily causes leaders to avoid diverse interactions due to fear, hindering genuine allyship.

— Julie Kratz, Forbes.com, 9 Aug. 2026

Definition of hindering

Verb

Those who don’t like swallowing pills will appreciate these tasty saffron gummy supplements.

— BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2026
Their father devoured his meal, slurping up soup with his right hand and swallowing bread spread with miso paste with his left.

— Cynthia Zarin, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of swallowing

Verb

The operation has brought a fuel crisis that is embarrassing the Kremlin.

— ABC News, ABC News, 8 Aug. 2026
Anthrax, Sublime, and Red Hot Chili Peppers were easy and often embarrassing examples, but the funky waka-waka guitar sound extended to Rage Against the Machine, Green Jellÿ, and Suicidal Tendencies (and their side project, Infectious Grooves).

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of embarrassing

Verb

The episode centered on the botched transfer of crime boss Heath Everett (Jeffrey Vincent Parise), but true fans were more glued to the love story tying up between Winter’s Tim Bradford and Melissa O’Neil’s Lucy Chen.

— Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 28 July 2026
Much of the penultimate episode is about tying up loose ends and spending some wholesome time together before the eliminations inevitably begin, and … honestly, everyone is just getting along pretty well.

— Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 11 July 2026