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
One of the few signs of contraction in the Nevada labor economy came in government jobs, which fell over the past year, holding back what would have been an even stronger expansion.
—
Alex Harring, CNBC, 19 June 2026
But good for him for not holding back.
—Arushi Jacob, Variety, 17 June 2026
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
Alex Harring, CNBC, 19 June 2026
But good for him for not holding back.
—Arushi Jacob, Variety, 17 June 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for holding back
Verb
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Smoke could also make for dangerous driving conditions by impeding visibility.—
Sarah Perkel,
USA Today,
18 June 2026
-
Wednesday's arrests were part of the 15 charged Tuesday with impeding the work of immigration agents during and after Operation Metro Surge.—
Esme Murphy,
CBS News,
17 June 2026
Verb
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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
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The favourites for the tournament include Spain, France, Argentina and, yes, England; but much will depend on how well squads adapt to the stifling heat, games at high altitude, and having to play across four different time zones.—
The Week UK,
TheWeek,
13 June 2026
Verb
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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
-
The systematic dismantling of USAID has led to catastrophic humanitarian situations in Africa, including hampering the global response to the current Ebola outbreak.—
Charlie Warzel,
The Atlantic,
10 June 2026
Verb
-
Increase Your Protein Intake Protein increases satiety hormones while suppressing hunger hormones.—
Lindsey DeSoto,
Verywell Health,
19 June 2026
-
Firms also comply with privacy frameworks such as the GDPR and the CCPA when working across jurisdictions and refuse engagements that would require suppressing truthful, lawful reporting.—
Jason Phillips,
USA Today,
17 June 2026
Verb
-
This forced its social life underground, hindering community building.—
Peter Su,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2026
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So the rule is hindering governments' efforts to expand access to electricity and meet climate commitments under the Paris Agreement.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
17 June 2026
Verb
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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
-
Lacking vegetation to hold the sand in place, the wind pushes it over the top, swallowing trees and anything else in its path.—
Doug Ross,
Chicago Tribune,
15 June 2026
Verb
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Then to Sydney Harbour, the very scene of that embarrassing capsize exactly a year earlier, and the Americans won the event outright for a first win since October 2023.—
Andrew Rice,
New York Times,
29 May 2026
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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
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Nearly 40% of calls handled by Sacramento’s emergency medical services system were non-emergencies, tying up ambulances and paramedics, delaying urgent medical responses and adding nearly $5 million in costs to the city, according to a city audit.—
Reeti Malhotra
May 29,
Sacbee.com,
29 May 2026
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As many spread awareness to avoid tying up a dog outside, Ezra's owner is hoping someone can help.—
Sarah Horbacewicz,
CBS News,
19 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Holding back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/holding%20back. Accessed 22 Jun. 2026.
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