1
as in hampers
to create difficulty for the work or activity of
the only thing holding them back from joining the swim team is lack of transportation
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in stifles
to refrain from openly showing or uttering
held back her tears until she was alone
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for holds back
Verb
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Maintain a safe distance from large vehicles - Trucks or buses can produce a water spray that hampers visibility.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
26 Sep. 2025 -
Maintain a safe distance from large vehicles - Trucks or buses can produce a water spray that hampers visibility.—
KANSAS CITY STAR WEATHER BOT,
Kansas City Star,
23 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The judge found that Google has been engaging in behavior that stifles competition to the detriment of online publishers that depend on the system for revenue.—
Michael Liedtke,
Fortune,
22 Sep. 2025
-
Trump silencing free speech stifles our democracy.—
Andrew Stanton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
That kind of overload hinders change and makes future efforts more challenging.—
Daniel Schmeltz,
Fortune,
22 Sep. 2025
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Nevertheless, the lack of efficient electrolytes with fast hydride ion conductivity, thermal stability, and electrode compatibility hinders their practical applications.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Mulch suppresses weeds, retains moisture in the soil, and adds nutrients back to the soil, too.—
Lauren David,
Southern Living,
27 Sep. 2025
-
Tissue samples from Fern Franco’s remains, obtained by a search warrant, revealed the presence of both morphine, which suppresses respiration, along with the drug succinylcholine, a paralytic used to relax skeletal muscles as during intubation.—
Eric Adler,
Kansas City Star,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The university has also cracked down on chalking on campus sidewalks, which critics say impedes the free speech rights of students.—
Chris Quintana,
USA Today,
10 Sep. 2025
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Let go of whatever impedes your growth.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Taroko Gorge, however, carves breathtaking grandeur from marble stone; a natural cathedral of cliffs, where suspension bridges sway above rapids and swallows dart through narrow canyons.—
Lewis Nunn,
Forbes.com,
14 Aug. 2025
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Neurocysticercosis occurs after a person swallows pork tapeworm eggs, according to the CDC.—
Deirdre Bardolf,
FOXNews.com,
9 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Don't tail large vehicles closely - Trucks or buses can kick up a water spray that obstructs visibility.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
24 Sep. 2025
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Yet the longer Israel obstructs the Hezbollah disarmament plan, the less receptive most of Lebanon’s Shias will be to it.—
Bilal Y. Saab,
Time,
18 Sep. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Holds back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/holds%20back. Accessed 1 Oct. 2025.
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