Synonyms of withhold

withhold

verb

with-ˈhōld 

1

as in to refuse

to be unwilling to grant

must withhold official approval until all the proper forms have been submitted

Synonyms & Similar Words

• refuse
• deny
• reject
• decline
• disallow
• disapprove
• forbid
• negative
• prohibit
• restrict
• veto
• keep
• enjoin
• proscribe
• nix
• restrain
• reprobate
• ban
• hold
• check
• spurn
• repel
• constrain
• repress
• hinder
• impede
• obstruct
• curb
• rebuff
• balk (at)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• permit
• let
• provide
• allow
• grant
• give
• furnish
• afford
• concede
• supply
• authorize
• OK
• license
• agree (to)
• warrant
• consent (to)
• sanction
• acquiesce
• commission
• accede (to)
• accord
• assent (to)
• vouchsafe

2

as in to retain

to continue to have in one's possession or power

withhold some money for your own expenses

Synonyms & Similar Words

• retain
• keep
• hold
• preserve
• possess
• save
• reserve
• have
• protect
• conserve
• hold on to
• enjoy
• guard
• hang on to
• own
• manage
• control
• boast
• direct
• rule
• detain
• cherish
• treasure
• command
• cling (to)
• hug
• harbor
• bear

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• yield
• relinquish
• release
• give
• surrender
• abandon
• give up
• contribute
• drop
• donate
• reject
• discard
• cede
• dump
• hand over
• lose
• decline
• repudiate
• hand out
• spurn

Synonym Chooser

How is the word withhold distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of withhold are detain, keep, reserve, and retain. While all these words mean "to hold in one's possession or under one's control," withhold implies restraint in letting go or a refusal to let go.

withheld information from the authorities

When would detain be a good substitute for withhold?

The synonyms detain and withhold are sometimes interchangeable, but detain suggests a delay in letting go.

detained them for questioning

In what contexts can keep take the place of withhold?

While in some cases nearly identical to withhold, keep may suggest a holding securely in one's possession, custody, or control.

keep this while I'm gone

When is it sensible to use reserve instead of withhold?

The words reserve and withhold can be used in similar contexts, but reserve suggests a keeping in store for future use.

reserve some of your energy for the last mile

When might retain be a better fit than withhold?

In some situations, the words retain and withhold are roughly equivalent. However, retain implies continued keeping, especially against threatened seizure or forced loss.

managed to retain their dignity even in poverty

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of withhold

Wage garnishment allows a portion of your paycheck to be withheld to repay the debt, while a bank levy can freeze and potentially seize funds from your account. —Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 10 Apr. 2026

To reject any anomaly, anything mysterious or unusual, Kawamura suggests, is to succumb to a soul-crushing, self-serving conformity—and to withhold possibilities of decency, discovery, and love that make any game worth playing, life very much included. —Justin Chang, New Yorker, 10 Apr. 2026

The Earth-observation company Planet Labs is withholding its satellite imagery of Iran indefinitely. —Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 9 Apr. 2026

This law also allowed the government to withhold federal research funding from colleges based on civil rights violations. —Ryan Creps, The Conversation, 9 Apr. 2026

Phrases Containing withhold

• withhold (from)