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
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
Such confidential filings allow companies to get feedback from regulators while withholding information from competitors.
—Andrea Guzmán, Austin American Statesman, 1 Apr. 2026
Five states, meanwhile, have provided publicly available voter information – name, address and party affiliation – to the DOJ while withholding more sensitive information.
—John J. Martin, The Conversation, 1 Apr. 2026
Schwartz had pleaded guilty to withholding $39 million in payroll taxes from his employees and failing to send the money to the IRS.
—Jeremy Kohler, ProPublica, 30 Mar. 2026
The states are asking the court to block USDA from enforcing the conditions, vacate them entirely, and prevent the agency from withholding funds from states, school districts or other sub‑recipients.
—Jenni Fink, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
That’s not a sign of him withholding his opinion, though.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 28 Mar. 2026
For now, Delta appears to be alone among major airlines in withholding special perks from Congress during the shutdown.
—Dallas Morning News, 26 Mar. 2026
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
Such confidential filings allow companies to get feedback from regulators while withholding information from competitors.
—Andrea Guzmán, Austin American Statesman, 1 Apr. 2026
Five states, meanwhile, have provided publicly available voter information – name, address and party affiliation – to the DOJ while withholding more sensitive information.
—John J. Martin, The Conversation, 1 Apr. 2026
Schwartz had pleaded guilty to withholding $39 million in payroll taxes from his employees and failing to send the money to the IRS.
—Jeremy Kohler, ProPublica, 30 Mar. 2026
The states are asking the court to block USDA from enforcing the conditions, vacate them entirely, and prevent the agency from withholding funds from states, school districts or other sub‑recipients.
—Jenni Fink, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
That’s not a sign of him withholding his opinion, though.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 28 Mar. 2026
For now, Delta appears to be alone among major airlines in withholding special perks from Congress during the shutdown.
—Dallas Morning News, 26 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for withholding
Verb
-
Insurance kept denying me anyway.—
Meredith Wilshere,
PEOPLE,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Chawinga is known for her help-defense — denying passes to players in those spaces, or even closing down the player sending in such crosses.—
Daniel Sperry,
Kansas City Star,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
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This smart toaster is designed to evenly toast bagels, bread, waffles and more from edge to edge, delivering a crisp exterior while keeping the inside soft.—
Tory Johnson,
ABC News,
11 Apr. 2026
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Most of the candidates’ pledges, such as tackling unaffordability, reducing gas prices, increasing capacity in state prisons, protecting gun owners’ rights and keeping trans athletes out of girls’ locker rooms, are nearly identical.—
Seema Mehta,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
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In December 2025, Horan’s lawyer told him Prospect was refusing to defend him or pay any of his costs.—
Peter Elkind,
ProPublica,
9 Apr. 2026
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In the show’s second season, Mo (creator-star Mo Amer) finds himself in Mexico, facing down the immigration system while refusing to compromise his beliefs, ultimately risking everything to cross the border illegally in search of home.—
Hilary Lewis,
HollywoodReporter,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The Sparks extended qualifying offers to Rae Burrell, Julie Vanloo and Alissa Pili this week, essentially retaining their rights.—
Marisa Ingemi,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Apr. 2026
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Denver’s had an active offseason at ILB, retaining Alex Singleton and Justin Strnad, releasing Dre Greenlaw and now moving Jonah Elliss inside.—
Parker Gabriel,
Denver Post,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Xi’s outreach to Cheng came along with overt swipes at Taiwan’s current government under President Lai Ching-te, who is shunned by Beijing as a dangerous ‘separatist’ for rejecting China’s claim that Taiwan is its territory.—
Janis Mackey Frayer,
NBC news,
10 Apr. 2026
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The law, criticized by free speech advocates, allows a top official at the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to designate a group as a domestic or foreign terrorist organization, with the governor and three other members of the Florida Cabinet approving or rejecting the designation.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Simply holding the mandolin had transported me back fifty years.—
Tim Parks,
New Yorker,
11 Apr. 2026
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Min Aung Hlaing, who had attained the rank of senior general, last week relinquished his post of commander-in-chief because the constitution prohibits the president from simultaneously holding the top military position.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Antarctic sea ice is declining at record rates, according to climate scientists.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
9 Apr. 2026
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The new listings, published Wednesday by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, cite factors such as warming ocean waters, melting sea ice and declining availability of food to sustain such species.—
Andrew Freedman,
CNN Money,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Still, for researchers, the project marks an important step in preserving what remains of the red wolf's genetic legacy.—
Moná Thomas,
PEOPLE,
9 Apr. 2026
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Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and City Councilmember Ysabel Jurado called Thursday for allotting more than $360 million to developers and nonprofits building and preserving affordable housing projects.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Withholding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/withholding. Accessed 11 Apr. 2026.
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