as in limits
to set bounds or an upper limit for
efforts to hold down taxes keep running up against the legislature's ingrained unwillingness to cut spending
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Recent Examples of holds down
Adams, then, holds down the top spot on the depth chart in that box-to-box role, but Pochettino has also coaxed fantastic performances out of players such as Sebastian Berhalter, McKennie, Tessmann — and even Timmy Tillman — in that role.
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Paul Tenorio, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2026
Paul Tenorio, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for holds down
Verb
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When that happens, the dough tightens and limits expansion in the oven.—
Olivia McIntosh,
Martha Stewart,
22 Feb. 2026
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To overcome this challenge, engineers usually add heavy shielding, but that extra weight increases launch costs and limits what a mission can carry.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
21 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The Florida Board of Medicine restricts the claims that physician assistants make about board certification.—
Cindy Krischer Goodman,
Sun Sentinel,
26 Feb. 2026
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The bill restricts a local government unit’s ability to impose and increase fees related to building approval and permits, among other design-element limitations.—
Alexandra Kukulka,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Holds down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/holds%20down. Accessed 2 Mar. 2026.
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