as in delays
an instance or period of being prevented from going about one's business
a holdup in construction due to the weather
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Recent Examples of holdups
The slain suspect, Lahione Soto, is suspected in a string of nearby holdups in the minutes leading up to the shooting, police sources said.
—
Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 18 Aug. 2025
Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 18 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for holdups
Noun
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On Friday evening, airports in Phoenix, Houston and San Diego were reporting delays because of staffing issues, and the Federal Aviation Administration warned that staffing problems were also possible at airports in the New York area, Dallas and Philadelphia.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
25 Oct. 2025
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Advertisement While the commercial supply of goods has improved since the cease-fire deal, the flow of humanitarian aid continues to be marred by bureaucracy, delays, and blockages.—
Anna Halford,
Time,
25 Oct. 2025
Noun
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First, summertime is by far the busiest season, and because everything is cooked fresh to order, waits can sometimes be long.—
Abby Price,
Southern Living,
22 Oct. 2025
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Staffing challenges and court orders have contributed to long waits for borrowers trying to access a new plan.—
Annie Nova,
CNBC,
21 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Holdups.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/holdups. Accessed 28 Oct. 2025.
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