as in limiting
to set bounds or an upper limit for
efforts to hold down taxes keep running up against the legislature's ingrained unwillingness to cut spending
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Recent Examples of holding down
For a decade, Lil Pete has been holding down the Bay Area with sensitive, post-Jacka mood music.
—
Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 4 June 2026
Depression, anxiety, and trauma are often compounded by the stress of making ends meet, putting food on the table, holding down a job in an unstable economy, and trying to create stability for children with limited resources.
—Jennifer Stolo, Washington Post, 2 June 2026
So, too, would Hugo Bueno, if only because the narrative of a player emerging from the Wolves academy and holding down a regular place in a Premier League starting XI is appealing.
—Steve Madeley, New York Times, 28 May 2026
Southwest senior pitcher Alex Rico matched Kuhl inning for inning for much of the game, holding down the Chargers offense until the fifth.
—Jeffrey Perkins, San Antonio Express-News, 9 May 2026
Although Purdy is holding down the starting position and Mac Jones is entering the second and final year of a cheap backup contract, the players behind them are unproven.
—Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 23 Apr. 2026
In Normal, our guy plays Ulysses, a substitute sheriff who’s just holding down the fort for a few weeks until a new sheriff can be elected after the old one passed away under strange circumstances.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 16 Apr. 2026
In a picture posted to animal control’s Facebook page, two strips of tape can be seen holding down the top of the bin.
—Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 12 Mar. 2026
Yeah, no one was holding down her legs.
—Peter Larsen, Daily News, 7 Mar. 2026
Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 4 June 2026
Depression, anxiety, and trauma are often compounded by the stress of making ends meet, putting food on the table, holding down a job in an unstable economy, and trying to create stability for children with limited resources.
—Jennifer Stolo, Washington Post, 2 June 2026
So, too, would Hugo Bueno, if only because the narrative of a player emerging from the Wolves academy and holding down a regular place in a Premier League starting XI is appealing.
—Steve Madeley, New York Times, 28 May 2026
Southwest senior pitcher Alex Rico matched Kuhl inning for inning for much of the game, holding down the Chargers offense until the fifth.
—Jeffrey Perkins, San Antonio Express-News, 9 May 2026
Although Purdy is holding down the starting position and Mac Jones is entering the second and final year of a cheap backup contract, the players behind them are unproven.
—Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 23 Apr. 2026
In Normal, our guy plays Ulysses, a substitute sheriff who’s just holding down the fort for a few weeks until a new sheriff can be elected after the old one passed away under strange circumstances.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 16 Apr. 2026
In a picture posted to animal control’s Facebook page, two strips of tape can be seen holding down the top of the bin.
—Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 12 Mar. 2026
Yeah, no one was holding down her legs.
—Peter Larsen, Daily News, 7 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for holding down
Verb
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Uber and the Consumer Attorneys of California agreed to withdraw competing November ballot measures and pursue joint legislation limiting medical liens and tightening Uber driver background checks.—
Ruyuan Li. Summary produced by AI assistance,
Sacbee.com,
18 June 2026
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Golden State had a whopping nine offensive rebounds while limiting Dallas to two offensive boards all night.—
Nathan Canilao,
Mercury News,
18 June 2026
Verb
-
France is putting emergency services and military forces on wildfire alert, restricting public alcohol consumption and canceling some outdoor sports events to cope with a heat wave unfurling across parts of Europe.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
21 June 2026
-
In the United States, at least 19 states have already passed laws restricting minors’ access to social media platforms — with eight states enacting outright bans or parental consent requirements.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
21 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Holding down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/holding%20down. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.
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