1
as in denying
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 keeping
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 withholding
The agency began issuing overpayment notices on April 25, 2025, and would start withholding 50% of the recipient's benefits after about 90 days (or approximately July 24, at the earliest), until the overpayment is repaid.
—
Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 8 Sep. 2025
There’s a scarcity mind-set in withholding a song.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 2 Sep. 2025
Are writers withholding their best jokes?
—Jodi Guglielmi, Rolling Stone, 2 Sep. 2025
These policies include withholding federal research funding and new restrictions against international students.
—Stuart Anderson, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
The effort to deal with the emerging humanitarian crisis, officials say, was complicated by a president who felt a deep responsibility to Israel and its security, and the question of whether or not to openly confront Israel or use punitive measures, like withholding military aid.
—Tom Bowman, NPR, 28 Aug. 2025
Uvalde, Texas — Thousands more emails related to the 2022 school massacre in Uvalde, Texas, are to be released after a lawyer said a mistake had been made in withholding them.
—Matthew J. Friedman, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2025
The order allows the DOT to enforce the requirement by withholding federal funds.
—Elizabeth Crisp, The Hill, 26 Aug. 2025
Van Hollen accused federal officials of withholding information from Garcia's legal team and spreading false claims about his background.
—Amanda Castro
hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Aug. 2025
Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 8 Sep. 2025
There’s a scarcity mind-set in withholding a song.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 2 Sep. 2025
Are writers withholding their best jokes?
—Jodi Guglielmi, Rolling Stone, 2 Sep. 2025
These policies include withholding federal research funding and new restrictions against international students.
—Stuart Anderson, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
The effort to deal with the emerging humanitarian crisis, officials say, was complicated by a president who felt a deep responsibility to Israel and its security, and the question of whether or not to openly confront Israel or use punitive measures, like withholding military aid.
—Tom Bowman, NPR, 28 Aug. 2025
Uvalde, Texas — Thousands more emails related to the 2022 school massacre in Uvalde, Texas, are to be released after a lawyer said a mistake had been made in withholding them.
—Matthew J. Friedman, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2025
The order allows the DOT to enforce the requirement by withholding federal funds.
—Elizabeth Crisp, The Hill, 26 Aug. 2025
Van Hollen accused federal officials of withholding information from Garcia's legal team and spreading false claims about his background.
—Amanda Castro
hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for withholding
Verb
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But there’s no denying that this emerging dynamic gives billionaires and their space companies unprecedented power that could play out in exciting — and perhaps dangerous — ways.—
Jackie Wattles,
CNN Money,
12 Sep. 2025
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China is also ramping up its ability to target satellites, aimed at weakening or denying adversaries access to space, reported SCMP.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Outside of Seville, Thompson, Lyles, and Bednarek keeping the Jamaica versus USA rivalry alive, the most notable observation of the race is that 50% of the finalists were from African nations, a strong feat for an event typically dominated by the aforementioned countries.—
Katelyn Hutchison,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
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While Hadden-Paton was unsuccessful in keeping his dapper suit, his costar, Hugh Bonneville, who plays Lord Grantham, confessed to Kelly Ripa and Michael Strahan on Live!—
Meredith Wilshere,
PEOPLE,
14 Sep. 2025
Verb
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This consistency, Nassau argues, shields founders from the reputational hit of a prior lead refusing to participate in follow-ons.—
Lyssanoel Frater,
USA Today,
12 Sep. 2025
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Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries say they are united in refusing to back any spending measure that does not include key health care protections and commitments not to roll them back.—
Aliss Higham,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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For an Indiana group that has high hopes, retaining effective young talent is a must.—
Tony East,
Forbes.com,
13 Sep. 2025
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And yet, despite the somewhat shaky premise—retaining the services of an insurance company that isn’t State Farm is like hiring the All About the Bass warbler to oversee your star quarterback’s injury prevention and/or rehabilitation regimen—the spot hasn’t worn out its welcome.—
Anthony Crupi,
Sportico.com,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Tesla's world class at rejecting how things were done previously.—
James Morris,
Forbes.com,
13 Sep. 2025
-
The roughly 3,200 members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) District 837 went on strike on August 4 after rejecting the company’s previous offer.—
Reuters 20 min ago,
CNN Money,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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For every person holding the statue, there are four or five who came close and didn’t.—
Vibhas Ratanjee,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
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The extra point was good but there was a holding penalty on the Rebels.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
14 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The negativity around Wilson wasn’t only about his declining physical skills.—
Ian O'Connor,
New York Times,
11 Sep. 2025
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Still, there is some evidence click-throughs per search are declining.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
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With September finally here, the yellow, orange and red hues of fall foliage will soon make an appearance, signalling the coming of the autumn and trees preserving their energy each year.—
Saleen Martin,
USA Today,
14 Sep. 2025
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Sometimes, when the Fed cuts, long-term rates drop as well, preserving or even widening the spread.—
Robert Daugherty,
Forbes.com,
13 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Withholding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/withholding. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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