Synonyms of withheld

withheld 1 of 2

adjective

as in suppressed

Related Words

• suppressed
• reserved
• concealed
• revoked
• repressed
• stifled
• personal
• retracted
• silenced
• intimate
• surreptitious
• undisclosed
• clandestine
• recanted
• classified
• undercover
• covert
• underhanded
• collusive
• confidential
• conspiratorial
• underhand
• unannounced
• unadvertised
• private
• privy
• secret

Dissimilar Words

• public
• open
• general
• popular
• unclassified
• nonclassified
• well-known

withheld

2 of 2

verb

past tense of withhold

1

as in denied

to be unwilling to grant

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• denied
• refused
• rejected
• declined
• disallowed
• disapproved
• forbade
• prohibited
• restricted
• vetoed
• kept
• nixed
• reprobated
• proscribed
• banned
• enjoined
• negatived
• spurned
• rebuffed
• restrained
• checked
• held
• hindered
• constrained
• repelled
• repressed
• curbed
• impeded
• obstructed
• balked (at)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• granted
• provided
• permitted
• allowed
• supplied
• conceded
• let
• furnished
• afforded
• gave
• authorized
• licensed
• agreed (to)
• commissioned
• acquiesced
• warranted
• consented (to)
• accorded
• sanctioned
• OK'd
• acceded (to)
• assented (to)
• vouchsafed

2

as in retained

to continue to have in one's possession or power

withhold some money for your own expenses

Synonyms & Similar Words

• retained
• kept
• held
• preserved
• possessed
• reserved
• saved
• had
• protected
• guarded
• held on to
• enjoyed
• owned
• conserved
• hung on to
• boasted
• ruled
• controlled
• managed
• detained
• directed
• bore
• clung (to)
• cherished
• commanded
• hugged
• harbored
• treasured

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• released
• surrendered
• yielded
• abandoned
• dropped
• gave
• contributed
• relinquished
• gave up
• ceded
• donated
• rejected
• discarded
• handed over
• dumped
• declined
• lost
• repudiated
• handed out
• spurned

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of withheld

Adjective

The withheld funding supports election monitoring, independent media and other pro-democracy programs abroad. — Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Aug. 2025

Verb

As of publication, the victim's identity is being withheld until the next of kin is notified. — Matthew Ablon, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026

No Have you ever been charged or convicted of a felony or misdemeanor, including an adjudication of guilt withheld? — Michelle Whitman, Sun Sentinel, 13 Oct. 2026

In this case, the five networks that make up the TV pool — CNN, Fox News, ABC News, CBS News and NBC News — last month withheld their participation to protest the White House’s exclusion of CNN. — Ted Johnson, Deadline, 12 Oct. 2026

Northrop Grumman withheld specific operational details regarding the flight date, duration, altitude, and airspeed. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 5 Oct. 2026

Baldwin’s trial for involuntary manslaughter was cut short in July 2024, when the judge dismissed the charge after learning that Morrissey had withheld evidence from the defense. — Gene Maddaus, Variety, 30 Sep. 2026

Seventy-eight Democrats in the Assembly and Senate backed the bill, while a handful of members of the supermajority party withheld their votes and Republicans voted en masse against it. — Andrew Graham, Sacbee.com, 30 Sep. 2026

To weaponize this advantage, the 30 clubs have withheld roughly $75 million each in central-fund distributions, amassing a $2 billion liquidity holdback. — Chris Koras, Sportico.com, 28 Sep. 2026

The man, whose identity was withheld until his family could be notified, fatally plunged from a mountainous area of Hyrum, Utah, east of Millville Canyon and east of the small city of Millville, Cache County Chief Sheriff’s Deputy Doyle Peck said. — Dennis Romero, NBC news, 28 Sep. 2026