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
• okay
• authorize
• OK
• license
• warrant
• agree (to)
• acquiesce
• commission
• consent (to)
• accede (to)
• sanction
• assent (to)
• licence
• accord
• 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)
• forego
• 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)

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of withhold

Verb

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

Phrases Containing withhold

• withhold (from)