Synonyms of withhold

withhold 1 of 2

verb (1)

with-ˈhōld 

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

• refuse
• deny
• reject
• decline
• disallow
• disapprove
• forbid
• negative
• prohibit
• restrict
• veto
• keep
• enjoin
• proscribe
• nix
• restrain
• reprobate
• ban
• hold
• check
• spurn
• repel
• constrain
• repress
• hinder
• impede
• obstruct
• curb
• rebuff
• balk (at)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• permit
• let
• provide
• allow
• grant
• give
• furnish
• afford
• concede
• supply
• authorize
• OK
• license
• agree (to)
• warrant
• consent (to)
• sanction
• acquiesce
• commission
• accede (to)
• accord
• assent (to)
• vouchsafe

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

• retain
• keep
• hold
• preserve
• possess
• save
• reserve
• have
• protect
• conserve
• hold on to
• enjoy
• guard
• hang on to
• own
• manage
• control
• boast
• direct
• rule
• detain
• cherish
• treasure
• command
• cling (to)
• hug
• harbor
• bear

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• yield
• relinquish
• release
• give
• surrender
• abandon
• give up
• contribute
• drop
• donate
• reject
• discard
• cede
• dump
• hand over
• lose
• decline
• repudiate
• hand out
• spurn

withhold (from)

2 of 2

verb (2)

as in to keep (from)

to resist the temptation of

please see if you can withhold from criticizing every little thing she says

Synonyms & Similar Words

• keep (from)
• avoid
• refrain (from)
• abstain (from)
• forgo
• deny
• forbear
• refuse
• abjure
• shun
• curb
• check
• inhibit
• constrain
• eschew
• reject
• combat
• repudiate
• fight
• buck

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• submit (to)
• yield (to)
• surrender (to)
• bow (to)
• succumb (to)
• give in (to)
• concede (to)
• acquiesce (to)
• capitulate
• knuckle under (to)

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

Recent Examples of withhold

Verb

Despite the money being available, people inside and outside the government say the State Department is deliberately withholding some of the funds. —Fatma Tanis, NPR, 4 Apr. 2026

Elmore is accused of supplying drugs that were used to kill one of the Killing Fields victims, and of withholding information about the killings from authorities for more than 40 years. —John Wayne Ferguson, Houston Chronicle, 3 Apr. 2026

Employers must comply with federal and state wage laws, withhold and remit payroll taxes, provide Forms W-2, pay unemployment taxes, and meet other employment requirements. —David Schepp, Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026

In a February 2025 letter to FBI Director Kash Patel, Bondi requested all withheld Epstein documents and demanded an investigation into why they had not been delivered to her office. —Politifact, Dallas Morning News, 2 Apr. 2026

Phrases Containing withhold

• withhold (from)