withhold

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

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 withhold Led by California, the lawsuit alleges withholding the money violates the Constitution and several federal laws. Bianca Vázquez Toness, Chicago Tribune, 14 July 2025 Education and politics: Arizonans on student loan repayment plans can expect big changes under Big Beautiful Bill The lawsuit alleges Trump overstepped his authority in withholding funds that were approved by Congress, among other arguments. Stacey Barchenger, AZCentral.com, 14 July 2025 The current test withholds $1 for every $2 earned over a certain limit, which in 2025 is $23,400. Liz Weston, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 July 2025 Earlier in the week, Trump overturned a Pentagon decision to withhold some weapons shipments to Ukraine. Joey Garrison, USA Today, 12 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for withhold
Recent Examples of Synonyms for withhold
Verb
  • In both cases, as there was no misconduct, there were no apologies offered and no admission of guilt, in an effort to protect their reputations by refusing contrition for their journalism.
    Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Time, 7 July 2025
  • Glover refused, and Pierce told her to turn around as she was being arrested.
    Jade Jackson, IndyStar, 7 July 2025
Verb
  • These things can be weathered so long as Americans retain our reverence for freedom of speech.
    Bruce Yandle, Twin Cities, 10 July 2025
  • Cops don't have to disclose when AI is used in every department, and Draft One does not save drafts or retain a record showing which parts of reports are AI-generated.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 10 July 2025
Verb
  • So with his conviction and prison stay, Larson was denied access.
    Savannah Leigh Richardson, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 July 2025
  • Paxton, during the trial, denied having the affair.
    Ty Roush, Forbes.com, 10 July 2025
Verb
  • Discover easy meal prep strategies, nutritious grab-and-go options, and time-saving hacks to keep you fueled and focused throughout the day.
    Essence, Essence, 10 July 2025
  • Fill your container with soil, spread the seeds, mist with water daily, and keep them in a sunny spot or under grow lights.
    Symiah Dorsey, Southern Living, 9 July 2025
Verb
  • New York’s 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals rejected Maxwell’s appeal effort last year, finding that the deal drawn up in 2007 and approved the following year only protected Epstein and his coconspirators in South Florida.
    Molly Crane-Newman, New York Daily News, 15 July 2025
  • If anyone else tries such commands, the AGI and ASI reject them summarily.
    Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 15 July 2025
Verb
  • And believe it or not, plenty are genuinely comfortable, holding their own against traditional footwear.
    Jake Henry Smith, Glamour, 15 July 2025
  • Dreck is intended to highlight that rules are not alone in the regulatory universe, and urge that policymakers recognize and be held to account for the laundering of regulation by non-rule means to influence outcomes or inflict obligations, whether intentional or not.
    Clyde Wayne Crews Jr, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
Verb
  • The important storyline over those weeks is about untapped potential, not declining numbers.
    Lindsey Darvin, Forbes.com, 12 July 2025
  • Disney officials declined to comment on individual plans out of respect for all guests.
    Jasmine Mendez Follow, Los Angeles Times, 12 July 2025
Verb
  • Reminders of the fire have been kept and preserved, including a hole in a wall that has been filled with glass where firefighters cut into the building to try to fight the fire, Steve Short, COO of Steve Short Culinary Team, said.
    Corina Vanek, AZCentral.com, 7 July 2025
  • So, how can your clean-label brand preserve its reputation and product integrity when higher tariffs threaten this promise?
    Eran Mizrahi, Forbes.com, 7 July 2025

Cite this Entry

“Withhold.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/withhold. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on withhold

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