Synonyms of withholds

withholds

verb

present tense third-person singular of withhold

1

as in denies

to be unwilling to grant

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• denies
• refuses
• rejects
• declines
• disapproves
• disallows
• forbids
• prohibits
• nixes
• restricts
• keeps
• spurns
• proscribes
• vetoes
• enjoins
• restrains
• negatives
• holds
• bans
• repels
• hinders
• represses
• reprobates
• constrains
• impedes
• checks
• obstructs
• rebuffs
• curbs
• balks (at)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• provides
• permits
• gives
• allows
• concedes
• grants
• furnishes
• lets
• affords
• supplies
• authorizes
• licenses
• acquiesces
• OKs
• agrees (to)
• warrants
• commissions
• consents (to)
• accedes (to)
• assents (to)
• sanctions
• accords
• vouchsafes

2

as in retains

to continue to have in one's possession or power

withhold some money for your own expenses

Synonyms & Similar Words

• retains
• keeps
• holds
• possesses
• preserves
• has
• saves
• protects
• reserves
• enjoys
• conserves
• owns
• holds on to
• boasts
• manages
• guards
• hangs on to
• directs
• detains
• controls
• cherishes
• harbors
• rules
• commands
• treasures
• hugs
• clings (to)
• bears

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• yields
• relinquishes
• gives
• surrenders
• releases
• abandons
• contributes
• drops
• gives up
• donates
• rejects
• cedes
• discards
• loses
• dumps
• declines
• repudiates
• hands over
• spurns
• hands out

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of withholds

For a pivotal scene in which Marji publicly contradicts her teacher’s claim about political prisoners, Satrapi withholds background detail entirely, save for a whisper of trees outside a window. —Hillary Chute, The Atlantic, 9 June 2026

Refusal renames the finding, files it under welfare, trains the behavior down, passes laws foreclosing the question before anyone asks it in court, withholds broadband funding from states that try to answer it, and publishes declarations insisting the answer is already settled. —Jason Snyder, Forbes.com, 17 May 2026

Yet Netflix still withholds crucial details about who receives this data, how identities are stitched and enriched, and how household-level projections power its ad-targeting reach. —Todd Spangler, Variety, 11 May 2026

The state withholds a portion of Harvey’s revenue because of the city’s past failure to adequately fund its police and fire pension funds. —Evy Lewis, Chicago Tribune, 17 Apr. 2026

In some cases, benefit offsets (where the VA withholds part of your monthly benefit to repay a debt) can be adjusted to reduce the financial strain. —Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 3 Mar. 2026

The episode withholds the information that the incoming stew is Ellie, notoriously explosive, competitive, and a poor receiver of feedback, until the very end. —Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 17 Feb. 2026

Silence reclaimed Once silenced by the Islamic Republic, Googoosh now voluntarily withholds her voice in solidarity. —Richard Nedjat-Haiem, The Conversation, 15 Jan. 2026

Either chamber of Congress can hold someone in contempt on criminal or civil charges with a simple majority vote if that person refuses to testify, withholds information, or obstructs a congressional inquiry, according to the American Bar Association. —Jason Ma, Fortune, 21 Dec. 2025