1
as in to refuse
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 to retain
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 withhold
The United States should also withhold support for any operations outside NATO’s current boundaries suggested by other members of the alliance, including naval transits of the Taiwan Strait and no-fly zones over Ukraine.
—
Jennifer Kavanagh, Foreign Affairs, 30 Sep. 2025
During the trials, according to a Board of Bar Overseers report, the prosecutors were engaging in misconduct that included withholding exculpatory evidence and demonstrating racial bias against the defendant in emails.
—Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 29 Sep. 2025
Before sharing the tape with production, McConaughey asked the casting director to withhold sending Levi’s last name as a test of merit.
—Andrea Mandell, PEOPLE, 28 Sep. 2025
The film was finished in 2019, but the Bolsonaro government withheld funding for its distribution, effectively censoring the movie.
—Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 28 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for withhold
Jennifer Kavanagh, Foreign Affairs, 30 Sep. 2025
During the trials, according to a Board of Bar Overseers report, the prosecutors were engaging in misconduct that included withholding exculpatory evidence and demonstrating racial bias against the defendant in emails.
—Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 29 Sep. 2025
Before sharing the tape with production, McConaughey asked the casting director to withhold sending Levi’s last name as a test of merit.
—Andrea Mandell, PEOPLE, 28 Sep. 2025
The film was finished in 2019, but the Bolsonaro government withheld funding for its distribution, effectively censoring the movie.
—Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 28 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for withhold
Recent Examples of Synonyms for withhold
Verb
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My adoptive parents had refused to allow contact or send pictures, and didn’t tell me about her attempt to communicate with us for years after the fact.—
Nicole Chung,
The Atlantic,
2 Oct. 2025
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Federal officials refused to return him, accusing him of being a gang member, despite judges’ orders that he should be sent back to the United States.—
Eduardo Cuevas,
USA Today,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The contractor retained a good reputation in Washington and has continued to work for the State Department on overseas assignments.—
T. Christian Miller,
ProPublica,
30 Sep. 2025
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Wall Street Journal The latest benefit trend to attract and retain young workers?—
Kristin Stoller,
Fortune,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The organization denied any criminal activity.—
Bart Jansen,
USA Today,
26 Sep. 2025
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Peng denies such ties, and says Pony’s Chinese expertise may give it advantages in the US — despite the hostile political climate.—
Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson,
semafor.com,
26 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The Fed, which opted to cut interest rates earlier this month, is guided by a dual mandate to keep inflation under control and maximize employment.—
Max Zahn,
ABC News,
30 Sep. 2025
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Netanyahu knows that his political future is dependent on keeping far-right members of his coalition on board – and that dynamic has undone past pushes for the end of the war.—
Asher Kaufman,
The Conversation,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The letter also called for the return of mandatory standardized testing in university admissions and for universities to report the anonymous scores and grades of accepted and rejected students.—
Helen Rummel,
AZCentral.com,
2 Oct. 2025
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In a June ruling, a three-judge Kansas Court of Appeals panel rejected Kobach’s arguments in no uncertain terms.—
Matthew Kelly,
Kansas City Star,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Republicans balked, accusing Democrats of holding the government hostage by standing in the way of continued federal funding unless their health-care demands are met.—
Kevin Breuninger,Sam Meredith,
CNBC,
1 Oct. 2025
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While Avatar 2 will have 90% of the Imax, One Battle After Another will hold onto its Imax 70MM auditoriums.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
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And some items, though limited, have seen prices decline, including Graeter’s Black Raspberry Chocolate Chip ice cream, Montgomery Inn’s full rack of ribs, Pringles potato chips and Red and Blue Bicycle Playing cards (though a standard deck has risen 11% in line with the overall index.—
Alexander Coolidge,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
3 Oct. 2025
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Netflix has declined to comment on Musk’s campaign.—
Todd Spangler,
Variety,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Donate today to preserve the quality and integrity of local journalism.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
27 Sep. 2025
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The morning kicked off behind the Rose Creek Cottage and was one of many activities hosted by Friends of Rose Creek, an organization aimed at preserving the natural habitat and connecting community members.—
Madison Beveridge,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Withhold.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/withhold. Accessed 4 Oct. 2025.
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