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 The agencies that arranged their adoptions have lied to adoptees and withheld information. Time, 15 May 2025 Four of the organizations filed a class-action lawsuit, arguing HUD and DOGE had no authority to withhold funding approved by Congress. Jesse Coburn, ProPublica, 15 May 2025 Federal court rules against attempt to withhold ESA protections from Joshua treeA California federal court struck down an attempt from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to revoke protections for the Joshua Tree under the Endangered Species Act. Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 14 May 2025 The move to withhold guidance followed its first quarterly earnings miss in more than a decade. Alain Sherter, CBS News, 13 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for withhold
Recent Examples of Synonyms for withhold
Verb
  • Related Stories Sonja Morgan Banned from N.Y.C. Hotspot After Walking Out on $1,000 Bill Sonja Morgan Speaks Out After Leaving Restaurant in Ambulance On May 10, Morgan allegedly refused to pay her $1000 bill at Tucci, an upscale restaurant in the Noho neighborhood of Manhattan.
    Liza Esquibias, People.com, 20 May 2025
  • For more than a decade, Cox has refused to carry SportsNet LA because of its high cost.
    Ryan Faughnder, Los Angeles Times, 20 May 2025
Verb
  • This small fix would restore balance, encourage investment and ensure that patients retain their access to groundbreaking, convenient treatments.
    Julio Fuentes, Sun Sentinel, 11 May 2025
  • All is classified as Extra Virgin, meaning a relatively low temperature was used during production to retain aromas.
    Tom Mullen, Forbes.com, 11 May 2025
Verb
  • Aside from an apology video following the release of security footage in which Combs is seen beating Cassie, the music mogul has denied all of the allegations and claimed the video has been altered.
    Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 12 May 2025
  • Though some sheriffs have denied their existence, Luna has acknowledged and vowed to eradicate them.
    Keri Blakinger, Los Angeles Times, 11 May 2025
Verb
  • According to the organization's website, anyone living near bears should never feed the animals, keep garbage, food and livestock secure, and be aware of their surrounding while walking dogs.
    Charlotte Phillipp, People.com, 10 May 2025
  • At the exhibition, Ferraz encouraged the students to keep making art.
    Clara-Sophia Daly, Miami Herald, 10 May 2025
Verb
  • On May 16, Brown appeared in Manchester Magistrates’ Court, where Judge Joanne Hirst rejected his bail request.
    Jennifer Zhan, Vulture, 18 May 2025
  • To compound the embarrassment, Arsenal fan group Ashburton Army had raised more than £12,000 to fund their own tifo, which the club rejected (fans who had donated were refunded their money).
    Tim Spiers, New York Times, 18 May 2025
Verb
  • Particularly in less densely populated parts of America, plenty of government officials and citizens still hold a grudge over the way businesses and schools were temporarily shut down.
    Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 17 May 2025
  • The result is partial solutions that rarely hold under pressure.
    Wyles Daniel, USA Today, 17 May 2025
Verb
  • While the cost of groceries, on average, declined, the report found the price of dining out got more expensive and is up about 4% from the past year.
    Rachel Barber, USA Today, 14 May 2025
  • The current management of Planète Sauvage declined to comment for this story, as did the former mayors of Port-Saint-Père and Nantes.
    Christopher Clark, The Dial, 13 May 2025
Verb
  • Once again, the Edge had virtually no problem stripping out background music from a sample video, while preserving the speaker's voice.
    PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 20 May 2025
  • Nitrates are commonly added to meat to preserve it, but unlike many fruits and vegetables, meats lack helpful antioxidants.
    Ann Pietrangelo, Verywell Health, 20 May 2025

Cite this Entry

“Withhold.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/withhold. Accessed 24 May. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on withhold

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