1
as in turning back
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2
as in putting off
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Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for holding off
Verb
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When Genevieve’s physics experiment at the 1934 Chicago World’s Fair goes explosively wrong, Ash jumps in to save the day, turning back time by a few minutes to prevent disaster.—
Caroline Carlson,
Literary Hub,
3 Nov. 2025 -
When the bags are on the heads, there is no turning back.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Experts attribute the drop-off to rising costs and economic uncertainty, as Americans are increasingly putting off travel plans or opting for road trips over flights.—
Maia Pandey,
jsonline.com,
5 Nov. 2025
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All of the backup plans that people are preparing to enact - borrowing, trying to visit food banks, putting off other bills - have their own costs and downstream effects.—
Aliss Higham,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Of course young voters are turning away from the president.—
Martha McHardy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Oct. 2025
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Bradley cited the classic work of sociology, Robert Putnam’s Bowling Alone, with the memorable thesis that Americans were turning away from community.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
18 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Once enough cars have sped over these fissures, chunks begin breaking off to create those infamous potholes that pop tires and ruin shocks.—
Andrew Paul,
Popular Science,
29 Oct. 2025
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Weiss made a career for herself as an op-ed staff editor at The New York Times before breaking off from the mainstream publication in 2020 and launching the Free Press.—
Antonio Ferme,
Variety,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The ceiling and walls are connected with spidery shelving brackets, decorated in the same style as the black webby legs of his desk.—
Clare Mulroy,
USA Today,
31 Oct. 2025
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But city leaders ultimately decided against it, with Azevedo and Aguilar being the lone pair to cast a vote against shelving the matter.—
Jakob Rodgers,
Mercury News,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Consider postponing boating activities on the lake until a day with less wind.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
3 Nov. 2025
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These conditions pose challenges for travel, so exercise extra caution on the road or consider postponing your trip if possible.—
Southern California Weather Report,
Oc Register,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
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And the Broncos earn high marks in particular here for withstanding a couple of injuries to Pat Surtain II, as their star cornerback didn't come out of the locker room after halftime with a shoulder injury and then was quickly downgraded to out for the game.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
26 Oct. 2025
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What most people know about the classic snake plant is that reputation for withstanding neglect.—
The New York Times News Service Syndicate,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Newsom's office previously provided a statement to Fox News Digital, deferring responsibility for the situation to the CIF, CDE and state legislature.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
23 Oct. 2025
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Had Darnold not crumbled in the postseason, re-signing him to a multi-year deal and deferring McCarthy to a three-year development plan would have been reasonable.—
Trevor Squire,
MSNBC Newsweek,
2 Oct. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Holding off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/holding%20off. Accessed 9 Nov. 2025.
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