1
as in denies
to be unwilling to grant
must withhold official approval until all the proper forms have been submitted
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of withholds
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
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
-
Ali reiterates her concerns that Anton was different in the pods and denies that his job or ambition were factors in her decision.—
Jennifer Zhan,
Vulture,
30 Oct. 2025
-
Despite his reputation as a womanizer, the former King denies the affair in his memoir.—
Meredith Kile,
PEOPLE,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The Free Press retains editorial control of this work.—
Beki San Martin,
Freep.com,
27 Oct. 2025
-
Despite its modern exterior design, the Buzz retains some signatures of yesteryear’s vehicles.—
James Raia,
Mercury News,
26 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Many Democrats have adopted a more brash and confrontational style of politics, which refuses to keep anything quiet.—
Jeremy Lott,
The Washington Examiner,
31 Oct. 2025
-
Paul Thomas Anderson fits a generation’s worth of cineplex joys into One Battle After Another, but the revolution refuses to get off the couch.—
Jonathan Lethem,
The New York Review of Books,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The mesh upper keeps them extremely breathable.—
Olivia Young,
Travel + Leisure,
30 Oct. 2025
-
The Yfxcvsl Stackable Storage Unit keeps these items organized in four spacious compartments.—
Sian Babish,
PEOPLE,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Cooper made a film that rejects the conventions of its genre, that is unafraid to be slow and patient in the telling of its narrative, and that wasn’t made to appeal to everyone immediately upon release.—
Richard Newby,
HollywoodReporter,
29 Oct. 2025
-
The October court order rejects the Department of Education’s motion to dismiss the case and blocks the administration from implementing the discontinuation against nearly 50 grantees across the country while the lawsuit continues.—
Molly Gibbs,
Mercury News,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Polls show Sherrill in a tight race in New Jersey, while Spanberger holds a lead in Virginia.—
Phillip M. Bailey,
USA Today,
26 Oct. 2025
-
Broncos defensive tackle Eyioma Uwazurike was given a year-long suspension in 2023 by the NFL for betting on games, and the team holds presentations on gambling every season, head coach Sean Payton said Friday.—
Joe Nguyen,
Denver Post,
26 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
In older men, as testosterone naturally declines, gynecomastia becomes more common, often combined with weight gain or medications that alter hormone levels.—
Dr. Jamin Brahmbhatt,
CNN Money,
26 Oct. 2025
-
Nazareth now declines to confirm whether the deal has been finalized off-screen or not.—
Tom Huddleston Jr.,
CNBC,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
This molecule possesses both a low lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) energy and a minimal barrier for releasing lithium ions.—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
26 Oct. 2025
-
Hong Kong possesses the heritage, ecosystem, and connectivity to lead this transformation.—
Sunny Tan,
Sourcing Journal,
22 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Withholds.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/withholds. Accessed 1 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share