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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 Stocks fell again on Thursday after Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang told CNBC that capital for AI is scarce and holding back growth. — Fred Imbert, CNBC, 22 Oct. 2026 Slowik said there’s a bigger problem that’s holding back the offense. — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 22 Oct. 2026 According to Géraldine Naja, ESA's director of space transportation, the vehicle's other remaining qualification tests aren't holding back its path to launch. — Josh Dinner, Space.com, 22 Oct. 2026 Jessica held tightly onto the straps of her backpack, holding back her emotions. — Norma Galeana, CNN Money, 18 Oct. 2026 Disney and others went through periods of holding back shows to bolster their SVODs. — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 15 Oct. 2026 European textile recycling alliance ReHubs has appointed Béatrice Moureaux chief executive officer as the organization works to address the investment and demand barriers holding back textile-to-textile recycling capacity in Europe. — Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2026 Bolsonaro argues Brazil's hefty national debt is holding back the economy and a top campaign adviser has pledged to reduce it by slashing spending along the lines of Argentina's Javier Milei. — Catherine Osborn, NPR, 2 Oct. 2026 Quick wins will not fix the structural flaws holding back growth. — Dan Restrepo, Foreign Affairs, 30 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for holding back

Verb

Advertisement But other allies of Jackson say an overcautious campaign is impeding the Bernie Sanders progressive and stalwart labor champion from connecting with voters.

— Julia Terruso, Time, 26 Oct. 2026
Schwank also took issue with ICE’s characterization that Moreida was standing in the middle of an active road and impeding law enforcement’s actions.

— Eduardo Cuevas, CNN Money, 25 Oct. 2026

Definition of impeding

Verb

Debt acts as a ceiling on private investment, further stifling growth.

— Masood Ahmed, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2026
The weather served up truly stifling heat, including a stretch of highs in the mid-90s, and a few days of air quality emergency due to wildfire smoke drifting across the upper Midwest.

— Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of stifling

Verb

The officials said the restrictions were disrupting high-speed military drones, hampering Ukraine's ability to intercept Russian attacks and conduct operations along the front line.

— Garrett Downs, CNBC, 23 Oct. 2026
Kyiv sees this as an attempt to pressure it into concessions by hampering its aerial defense and military operations.

— David Hickey, NBC news, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of hampering

Verb

After 20 years of suppressing his feelings, therapy helped Harry give himself permission to grieve and acknowledge his pain.

— Esther Lian, PEOPLE, 21 Oct. 2026
Embracing uncertainty does not mean ignoring danger, suppressing disappointment or insisting that every setback is positive.

— ABC News, ABC News, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of suppressing

Verb

For more than a week, Ukraine had faced a speed limit on the Starshield satellite terminals used by its military, hindering its ability to intercept fast-moving Russian drones.

— Sophie Tanno, CNN Money, 25 Oct. 2026
Willie Herndon faces a murder charge and Taiya Herndon, who drove her husband to Illinois after the shooting, was arrested on charges of hindering prosecution, according to police.

— Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of hindering

Verb

For head and neck cancer survivors specifically, nearly all clinicians routinely assess cancer recurrence, swallowing and thyroid function.

— Marci Lee Nilsen, The Conversation, 22 Oct. 2026
People who have been infected with salmonella may experience diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps, usually six hours to six days after swallowing the bacteria, health officials said.

— Victoria Craw, Washington Post, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of swallowing

Verb

My New York neighbors barely said hello; in Singapore, a stranger would probably politely look away rather than risk embarrassing you.

— Amanda Lee Koe, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026
After those results went public, embarrassing Muñiz and a few other judges, the Florida Bar stopped conducting surveys and publishing the results … leaving Florida voters with even fewer resources.

— Scott Maxwell, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of embarrassing

Verb

Zelensky and Merz are tying up a significant defense and industrial partnership, which will see the two countries finalize a deal for the production of drones and missiles.

— Sophie Tanno, CNN Money, 4 Oct. 2026
For Garfield, playing Altman was tying up a loose end in his career.

— E. Alex Jung, Vulture, 2 Oct. 2026