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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Beiersdorf brand Nivea is turning back time in a new partnership with beloved Y2K clothing brand Juicy Couture.—
Kaleigh Werner,
Footwear News,
3 Oct. 2025 -
Week 4 highlights featured Willow Glen’s comeback win over Christopher, Foothill’s Max Shuga making an amazing catch to set up the winning touchdown against San Leandro, Piedmont turning back Aragon, De La Salle holding off Grant-Sacramento and more.—
Darren Sabedra,
Mercury News,
21 Sep. 2025
Verb
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This helps the shoe absorb impact, pushing off energy back towards you and putting off foot fatigue.—
Jasmine Gomez,
Travel + Leisure,
1 Oct. 2025
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While automakers are putting off and/or cancelling vehicles that only run on electrons, given high development costs and a weak market, Subaru is confident in the direction it is headed.—
Eileen Falkenberg-Hull,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Students from the kingdom are increasingly turning away from US universities in particular, put off by a mix of hostile immigration policies, concerns over gun violence, and the kingdom’s own push to grow its domestic education sector.—
Manal Albarakati,
semafor.com,
26 Sep. 2025
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Local solar installers are now fully booked and turning away new customers ahead of the December 31 deadline.—
Francesca Pica,
jsonline.com,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Lopez and Affleck, one of the quintessential pop culture couples of the early 2000s, famously rekindled their romance in 2021 and wed the following year, two decades after breaking off their first engagement in late 2002.—
Jessica Wang,
Entertainment Weekly,
6 Oct. 2025
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After breaking off the engagement, Cochran said, Glison had moved to the apartment complex to get away from him.—
Samira Asma-Sadeque,
PEOPLE,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
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While current power brokers haven’t scrapped movies over their content, yet, Hollywood has a recent history of companies obeying in advance by shelving projects until the tensions cool.—
Chris Yogerst,
HollywoodReporter,
6 Oct. 2025
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Jake Browning's second three-interception game in four weeks has got the Cincinnati Bengals searching for answers, which include potentially shelving the quarterback ahead of a showdown with the Green Bay Packers next Sunday.—
Max Dible,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Sharon eventually canceled the farewell tour after repeatedly postponing the dates, and Ozzy continued to steadily deteriorate.—
Andy Greene,
Rolling Stone,
3 Oct. 2025
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Consider postponing boating activities on the lake until a day with less wind.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Fast forward to today, and bridges have become some of the most complex feats of engineering on Earth, spanning miles of open water, carrying high-speed rail, and withstanding extreme weather and constant use.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
7 Oct. 2025
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Pique Interest Low-lift brassica plants make an impact and are known for withstanding light freezes (the cool weather enhances their coloring).—
Cameron Beall,
Southern Living,
4 Oct. 2025
Verb
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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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Cox also called for unity in hopes of deferring political violence.—
Lee Ann Anderson,
The Hill,
29 Sep. 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 13 Oct. 2025.
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