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
In court filings and a hearing earlier Friday, the states contended that the government did not have a legal reason for holding back the money from those states.
—
Geoff Mulvihill, Twin Cities, 10 Jan. 2026
Former New York City Mayor Eric Adams isn’t holding back in his response to Andy Cohen‘s criticism during Wednesday night’s CNN’s New Year’s Eve Live special with Anderson Cooper.
—Lexi Carson, HollywoodReporter, 2 Jan. 2026
And even if the Senate and House fully fund NOAA, Sokich said the administration could continue holding back the funds.
—Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 9 Nov. 2025
Honest conversations are also unavoidable, especially for those of you who have been holding back your true feelings.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 6 Nov. 2025
Firms that had stayed disciplined during the post-pandemic liquidity rush — holding back from inflated valuations and cheap leverage — are the ones outperforming, according to Bae.
—Anniek Bao, CNBC, 5 Nov. 2025
Butler, who appeared to be holding back tears, listened quietly as officers explained the purpose of their visit.
—Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 4 Nov. 2025
Clarke, executive director of the security research nonprofit The Soufan Center, says authorities may be holding back details to protect a potential prosecution.
—Alaa Elassar, CNN Money, 3 Nov. 2025
This chasm exposes the fragmentation that’s holding back European innovation.
—Jan Hammer, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2025
Geoff Mulvihill, Twin Cities, 10 Jan. 2026
Former New York City Mayor Eric Adams isn’t holding back in his response to Andy Cohen‘s criticism during Wednesday night’s CNN’s New Year’s Eve Live special with Anderson Cooper.
—Lexi Carson, HollywoodReporter, 2 Jan. 2026
And even if the Senate and House fully fund NOAA, Sokich said the administration could continue holding back the funds.
—Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 9 Nov. 2025
Honest conversations are also unavoidable, especially for those of you who have been holding back your true feelings.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 6 Nov. 2025
Firms that had stayed disciplined during the post-pandemic liquidity rush — holding back from inflated valuations and cheap leverage — are the ones outperforming, according to Bae.
—Anniek Bao, CNBC, 5 Nov. 2025
Butler, who appeared to be holding back tears, listened quietly as officers explained the purpose of their visit.
—Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 4 Nov. 2025
Clarke, executive director of the security research nonprofit The Soufan Center, says authorities may be holding back details to protect a potential prosecution.
—Alaa Elassar, CNN Money, 3 Nov. 2025
This chasm exposes the fragmentation that’s holding back European innovation.
—Jan Hammer, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for holding back
Verb
-
For a more permanent setup, mounting it on the ceiling keeps the projector out of the way and minimizes the risk of people, pets, or objects impeding the projection.—
Maggie Horton,
PEOPLE,
14 Jan. 2026
-
Agitators directing traffic and impeding law enforcement activity in Minnesota are drawing sharp criticism from a former police official, who warns the scenes signal a dangerous normalization of obstruction that threatens public safety and the rule of law.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
11 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Moore’s task against Indiana’s stifling defense would have been daunting even with all his weapons.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
10 Jan. 2026
-
The immense costs associated with the program have only worsened the economic situation, leading to a more stifling environment.—
Isaac Chotiner,
New Yorker,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
This left the country without a regular budget for next year and is hampering plans for long-overdue structural reforms and decisions on use of EU support funds.—
Veselin Toshkov,
Los Angeles Times,
31 Dec. 2025
-
Decades-old grids in the US are hampering new energy rollouts, and Spain’s huge blackout in April was blamed on an aged system unable to cope with power swings.—
Tom Chivers,
semafor.com,
29 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Minnesota officials, however, have reported that the federal government is blocking state authorities from the FBI probe and hindering their ability to carry out their own independent investigation by preventing them from accessing evidence.—
Connor Greene,
Time,
14 Jan. 2026
-
Despite his objections to the process, Cotton said he was concerned with the long-term viability of the city’s primary water source and regulations hindering residential development.—
Shelley Jones,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
There’s plenty to like about both veteran pitchers and reason to believe that competing in a home run-suppressing environment will allow their attributes to play up.—
Andrew Baggarly,
New York Times,
6 Jan. 2026
-
Foulk argued Barrett was suppressing evidence by preventing the state from presenting certain tax returns and Illinois Department of Revenue testimony.—
Addison Wright,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Any muscles used for movement — including those involved in speaking, chewing, swallowing, seeing, blinking, breathing and walking — can be affected.—
Desiree Anello,
PEOPLE,
10 Jan. 2026
-
To save humankind, a geophysicist living with early-onset Alzheimer’s is recruited to investigate the vast void swallowing the oceans.—
Rafa Sales Ross,
Variety,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Some mushroom bills backfired when their true impacts became known, embarrassing legislators who voted for them, and forcing them to backtrack.—
Dan Walters,
Mercury News,
14 Jan. 2026
-
The report reiterated concerns about seven situations, two of which have been on the list since 2007, including the bureaucracy’s chronic inability to successfully employ information technology — embarrassing for a state that is the global center for digital tools.—
Dan Walters,
Oc Register,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
His strategies often involve exploiting legal loopholes and tying up loose ends in court.—
Gavin J. Quinton,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Jan. 2026
-
On the first goal in question, Lohrei could have gotten a little more help from Tanner Jeannot in tying up Jonah Gadjovich’s stick, but AJ Greer beat Lohrei to the loose puck and then Jeremy Swayman to the shortside.—
Steve Conroy,
Boston Herald,
22 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Holding back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/holding%20back. Accessed 19 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
