holding off

verb

present participle of hold off
1
as in turning back

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2
as in putting off

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Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for holding off
  1. turning back
  2. putting off
  3. turning away
  4. breaking off
  5. withstanding
  6. shelving
  7. resisting
  8. postponing
Verb
  • Cubans are planning their lives around the lights turning back on.
    — Andrea Rodriguez, Los Angeles Times, 7 Aug. 2026
  • 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
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
  • Programs like the Pentagon’s Replicator initiative, which funded over 100 companies, two-thirds of them small businesses, while turning away over 300, illustrate that fierce, Darwinian competition is both inevitable and healthy in this sector.
    — Doug Beck, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2026
  • The construction activity prompted protests in and around the national park, and local businesses have been turning away federal contractors who are working on the project.
    — Ashley Killough, CNN Money, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of turning away
Verb
  • Later videos appeared to show the top of the rocket breaking off in flight.
    — Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Now, though, some branches are breaking off.
    — Ann Manov, Harpers Magazine, 23 June 2026
Definition of breaking off
Verb
  • Consider that a durable laptop capable of withstanding an accidental drop might be worth extra money.
    — BestReviews, Mercury News, 10 Aug. 2026
  • 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
Definition of withstanding
Verb
  • The rule formalizes the rollback announced in March 2025, effectively shelving the CTA for domestic businesses.
    — Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Spray mirrors and shelving with a simple mixture of equal parts vinegar and water.
    — Jamie Cuccinelli, Martha Stewart, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of shelving
Verb
  • The gloves must touch someone’s skin directly to produce voltage that causes pain, which is intended to make people stop resisting officers.
    — Kathy McCormack, Chicago Tribune, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Asking about being alone with a Haitian, for instance, prompted a quick lecture on resisting the forces of prejudice.
    — Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of resisting
Verb
  • Rolling Stone reported that Morrissey has made a habit of canceling shows, canceling 22 performances and postponing 10 others in 2025 alone.
    — Jack Dunn, Variety, 8 Aug. 2026
  • 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
Definition of postponing
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.

Browse Nearby Words

holding (in)
holding off
holding off (on)
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Cite this Entry

“Holding off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/holding%20off. Accessed 23 Aug. 2026.

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