1
as in denying
to be unwilling to grant
must withhold official approval until all the proper forms have been submitted
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of withholding
The complaint says the conference ended up withholding over $14 million in revenue distributions and the school had reimburse the conference for legal costs.
—
Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 15 June 2026
These smugglers charge thousands of euros a person and often force their passengers into prostitution or other forms of black market labor by withholding their documents to pay off the debt.
—ABC News, 12 June 2026
The measure is designed to prevent landlords from punishing tenants who exercise their legal rights, including filing complaints, joining tenant unions, withholding rent for serious issues, or speaking publicly about unsafe housing.
—Gabby Sartori, USA Today, 12 June 2026
That proves crucial in a perversely withholding film that refuses to clarify anything to do with Robin’s past.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 11 June 2026
Proposals range from purchasing tickets, only to leave seats conspicuously empty, to booing the national anthem and withholding any celebration of Iranian goals.
—Shirvin Zeinalzadeh, The Conversation, 11 June 2026
Harbour isn’t withholding in conversation, exactly, but he’s made clear, to a degree unusual for an actor doing press, that talking about his work is far less important to him than doing it.
—Daniel D'addario, Variety, 10 June 2026
Councilmember Jose Preciado, who cast a dissenting vote along with McCann to continue the item, supported awarding the funding and cautioned against withholding it.
—Walker Armstrong, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 June 2026
Pattinson plays Ephraim Winslow, a young keeper withholding a dark secret from his past, who comes to work at a coastal New England lighthouse under the guidance of Dafoe's crusty veteran, Thomas Wake.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 5 June 2026
Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 15 June 2026
These smugglers charge thousands of euros a person and often force their passengers into prostitution or other forms of black market labor by withholding their documents to pay off the debt.
—ABC News, 12 June 2026
The measure is designed to prevent landlords from punishing tenants who exercise their legal rights, including filing complaints, joining tenant unions, withholding rent for serious issues, or speaking publicly about unsafe housing.
—Gabby Sartori, USA Today, 12 June 2026
That proves crucial in a perversely withholding film that refuses to clarify anything to do with Robin’s past.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 11 June 2026
Proposals range from purchasing tickets, only to leave seats conspicuously empty, to booing the national anthem and withholding any celebration of Iranian goals.
—Shirvin Zeinalzadeh, The Conversation, 11 June 2026
Harbour isn’t withholding in conversation, exactly, but he’s made clear, to a degree unusual for an actor doing press, that talking about his work is far less important to him than doing it.
—Daniel D'addario, Variety, 10 June 2026
Councilmember Jose Preciado, who cast a dissenting vote along with McCann to continue the item, supported awarding the funding and cautioned against withholding it.
—Walker Armstrong, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 June 2026
Pattinson plays Ephraim Winslow, a young keeper withholding a dark secret from his past, who comes to work at a coastal New England lighthouse under the guidance of Dafoe's crusty veteran, Thomas Wake.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 5 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for withholding
Verb
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There’s no denying the enduring glamour of this grande dame, whose secluded locale at the tip of the Cap is as much a draw for the jet set as the intimate cabanas where Greta Garbo once retreated and the saltwater infinity pool carved into the cliffs.—
Lane Nieset,
Travel + Leisure,
13 June 2026
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There’s no denying that the Sym TTLBT competes in the premium maxi-scooter segment against the likes of the Kymco AK 550i, Yamaha TMax, and the Honda Forza 750.—
Utkarsh Sood
June 13,
New Atlas,
13 June 2026
Verb
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Ebola is transmitted from certain animal species like bats and primates, and while the current outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda is concerning, health officials there are exit-screening people leaving those countries in hopes of keeping the virus contained.—
Alice Park,
Time,
12 June 2026
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But librarians and educators stress that what’s more important than matters of taste is keeping kids conditioned to reading at a crucial developmental moment.—
Jessica Winter,
New Yorker,
12 June 2026
Verb
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And of course there will always be readers who balk at SF, refusing to countenance that our lived reality is saturated with it, and that the time for earnestly realistic state-of-the-nation novels may have passed.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 June 2026
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But Campbell has a point; legally, those trying to ban the Red Raiders from the playoff, or refusing, en masse, to schedule them, could be subject to accusations of collusion.—
Ian Miller OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
11 June 2026
Verb
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The leader sets direction, delegates while retaining accountability, builds teams and achieves results through people.—
Dr. Adil Dalal,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2026
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According to Higgins, many over-the-counter products can cause or worsen high blood pressure by constricting your blood vessels or retaining water in your body.—
Kathleen Ferraro,
Verywell Health,
11 June 2026
Verb
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In social services, the Legislature is rejecting a cut by the governor to popular in-home supportive service care funding for Californians with disabilities — including older adults and children.—
Stephen Hobbs,
Sacbee.com,
12 June 2026
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Cornyn then doubled down, rejecting the premise that procedural effort can substitute for votes and escalating his criticism of Republican messaging.—
Rena Rowe,
The Washington Examiner,
12 June 2026
Verb
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London's Serpentine Gallery is currently holding his first exhibition there, which was conceived in close collaboration with the artist and showcases new paintings by him.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
12 June 2026
-
But through four games, with the Knicks holding a commanding 3-1 series lead, Wembanyama has done little to justify the hype.—
Bobby Burack OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
12 June 2026
Verb
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Underlying the debate is an intense competition for public school students, which has become an existential threat in an era of sharply declining enrollment, especially given the reality that school districts are funded based on enrollment.—
Howard Blume,
Los Angeles Times,
11 June 2026
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More than a moral issue, the case risks a reputational crisis that could lead to declining sales, stock volatility, leadership instability and long-term damage to shareholder value, the organizations wrote.—
Jasmin Malik Chua,
Footwear News,
11 June 2026
Verb
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However, the environment in northwest Scotland is more conducive to preserving bone from that period.—
Jennifer Ouellette,
ArsTechnica,
11 June 2026
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The investors are looking at what could emerge on a small section of the IBM Almaden Research Center site while preserving as open space several hundred adjoining acres on the property, which is at 650 Harry Road in south San Jose, city files show.—
George Avalos,
Mercury News,
11 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Withholding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/withholding. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.
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