HOLDING OFF Synonyms: 82 Similar and Opposite Words

holding off

verb

present participle of hold off

as in turning back

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Dissimilar Words

as in putting off

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Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for holding off

Verb

At times, they were seen swerving around other drivers and driving at speeds up to 95 miles per hour in the northbound lanes before getting onto the westbound I-10, exiting near downtown and then turning back toward Boyle Heights on surface streets.

— Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 6 Aug. 2026
Exhausted after turning back a Spain barrage in a scoreless draw to start this tournament, Vozinha released tears as memorable as Messi’s.

— Jerry Brewer, New York Times, 20 July 2026

Definition of turning back

Verb

Hundreds of military bases have been putting off cleanup of toxic PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, for years, according to a new USA TODAY analysis of military records.

— Austin Fast, USA Today, 26 July 2026
Home Depot and Lowe’s both told investors this year that homeowners are putting off larger home improvement projects – those often associated with fixer-upper homes.

— Samantha Delouya, CNN Money, 17 July 2026

Definition of putting off

Verb

American public opinion is turning away from unconditional support of Israel since Israel’s genocide in Gaza.

— Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 5 Aug. 2026
At present, prison abolitionists have demanded new conditions for addressing racial capital, turning away from the brutal system of punitive measures to a framework of racial repair.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 27 July 2026

Definition of turning away

Verb

Holding a plaza for more than a month, withstanding a police crackdown and bringing senior ministers to neutral ground requires people.

— Penny Abeywardena, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
Sandwiching these is a silicon carbide layer, which acts as a high-strength pressure vessel capable of withstanding extreme internal pressures and temperatures exceeding 1,600°C without degrading.

— Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 23 July 2026

Definition of withstanding

Verb

While custom living room shelving houses an impressive book collection, the kitchen is stocked with all the essentials needed to prepare meals of any scale.

— Madeline Weinfield, Architectural Digest, 30 July 2026
All these vehicles have seen showroom traffic slow to a crawl, so the automakers are scaling back or shelving their offerings in the segment (with the focus turning to smaller, more efficient vehicles that can be built and sold profitably).

— Michael Harley, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026

Definition of shelving

Verb

Santiago and Teague were arraigned on Monday on the same charges, with Teague also charged with resisting arrest, while Rodriguez Diaz was arraigned on Monday on a single misdemeanor count of meeting a minor for lewd purposes.

— Carlos E. Castañeda, CBS News, 5 Aug. 2026
Wounaan have spent centuries refusing and resisting those forces, fighting against those who take land and rights unjustly.

— Chenier Carpio Opua, The Conversation, 5 Aug. 2026

Definition of resisting

Verb

According to the complaint, Brightline Investment Holdings has failed to pay down its loan or make any interest payments since December of 2025, even after seeking multiple extensions and postponing the maturity date of the loan.

— Joshua Ceballos, Miami Herald, 6 Aug. 2026
Earlier today, the president threw another wrench in the situation, floating the idea of postponing Blanche's confirmation until next year, when Cornyn and Tillis will both be gone from the Senate.

— Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 30 July 2026

Definition of postponing

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“Holding off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/holding%20off. Accessed 8 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of holding off

verb

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