1
as in denies
to be unwilling to grant
must withhold official approval until all the proper forms have been submitted
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in retains
to continue to have in one's possession or power
withhold some money for your own expenses
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of withholds
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
The lawsuit claims Uber misclassifies drivers as independent contractors to avoid accountability and withholds rider risk data.
—Stuart Dyos, Nashville Tennessean, 22 Sep. 2025
With its buzzy energy and sympathetic — if bumbling — criminals, Lumet withholds crucial information from the viewer until the final portion of the film.
—Christina Newland, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2025
While parents were fulfilling back-to-school shopping and educators were equipping classrooms with supplies out of their own pockets, the state that withholds money from CPS was holding a hearing to find out why the district is in financial trouble.
—Stacy Davis Gates, Chicago Tribune, 17 Aug. 2025
The last time Berkshire requested confidentiality treatment—which withholds information from the public and allows institutional investors to build positions without tipping off the market and triggering copycat trades—was in late 2023.
—Hugh Cameron, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Aug. 2025
Cai, who co-wrote the script with Han Nianjin, lays the sauce on thick from the get-go, but also withholds lots of key information about Meiyun and Baoshu’s mysterious connection.
—Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019
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
The lawsuit claims Uber misclassifies drivers as independent contractors to avoid accountability and withholds rider risk data.
—Stuart Dyos, Nashville Tennessean, 22 Sep. 2025
With its buzzy energy and sympathetic — if bumbling — criminals, Lumet withholds crucial information from the viewer until the final portion of the film.
—Christina Newland, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2025
While parents were fulfilling back-to-school shopping and educators were equipping classrooms with supplies out of their own pockets, the state that withholds money from CPS was holding a hearing to find out why the district is in financial trouble.
—Stacy Davis Gates, Chicago Tribune, 17 Aug. 2025
The last time Berkshire requested confidentiality treatment—which withholds information from the public and allows institutional investors to build positions without tipping off the market and triggering copycat trades—was in late 2023.
—Hugh Cameron, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Aug. 2025
Cai, who co-wrote the script with Han Nianjin, lays the sauce on thick from the get-go, but also withholds lots of key information about Meiyun and Baoshu’s mysterious connection.
—Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for withholds
Verb
-
Knicks forward Josh Hart denies reports the team had a players-only meeting following Monday night’s disappointing loss to the Dallas Mavericks.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
22 Jan. 2026
-
Besides defying the subpoena, neither Bill Clinton nor Hillary Clinton has been accused of wrongdoing and denies having any knowledge of Epstein's crimes.—
Lauren Peller,
ABC News,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Denmark retains authority over the island’s defense, foreign policy, and economic matters.—
Heather Hunter,
The Washington Examiner,
13 Jan. 2026
-
The sponsor retains responsibility for the content and holds the copyright to their material.—
Phan Khang,
Mercury News,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Today, a Luddite is your grandparent who keeps looking at the screen rather than the camera when on Zoom, the Boomer who types in all-capital letters, the grouchy man who refuses to get a smart phone, the professor spewing invective against Twitter, Facebook, and TikTok.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
21 Jan. 2026
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However, Lucy refuses to budge and be involved with the case, and Marianne (Gabriella Pession) agrees she shouldn’t be pressured into doing so.—
Lea Veloso,
StyleCaster,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Utopia Bedding Quilted Comforter This Utopia Bedding comforter keeps my bed looking super fluffy and cloud-like and gives my bedroom an expensive look.—
Genevieve Cepeda,
PEOPLE,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Leave it to one of the best luggage brands to come out with a revolutionary zipper that is three times stronger than a traditional zipper, as well as an anti-microbial lining that keeps odor-causing bacteria from thriving.—
Katie Jackson,
Travel + Leisure,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
In that view, Portland rejects the need for the deployment of ICE agents into our neighborhoods.—
Greg Wehner,
FOXNews.com,
21 Jan. 2026
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The bill also rejects a funding cut proposed for the Transportation Security Administration by the White House, which had sought a 3-4% cut to TSA staffing levels — with half to stop staffing exit lanes that let people re-enter public areas from secure parts of an airport.—
Reuters
Wire Service,
Dallas Morning News,
20 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The central legal question was whether the board of governors or the club’s voting members holds the ultimate power to authorize major capital projects and debt.—
Chase Jordan
January 13,
Charlotte Observer,
13 Jan. 2026
-
New York — Collective wisdom holds that an independent central bank is absolutely vital for any advanced economy.—
Allison Morrow,
CNN Money,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
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As Gustav aims to work his way back into their lives, Nora retreats into isolation as her mental health increasingly declines.—
Yamillah Hurtado,
PEOPLE,
12 Jan. 2026
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Conversely, declines in the short-term interest rate partially mitigated the overall rise in payments.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Jafar Panahi’s Palme d’Or-winning thriller possesses a withering critique of the cruelty and corruption of an authoritarian regime, combined with a blistering sense of humor.—
Glenn Whipp,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Jan. 2026
-
While the robot possesses a 360-degree sensor suite (LiDAR and HD cameras) for autonomous navigation, on-site reports noted that the CES floor performances were partially human-controlled using a dedicated remote to ensure safety in the crowded booth.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Withholds.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/withholds. Accessed 23 Jan. 2026.
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