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
Ukraine claims Russian drone attacks damaged the Druzhba pipeline; Hungary accuses it of deliberately withholding oil to pressure Central European nations.
—
Justin Spike, Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 2026
Priscilla, whose last name CNN is withholding for safety reasons, arrived in the city of Tepic on Saturday.
—Jack Guy, CNN Money, 23 Feb. 2026
Congress is withholding funds from the Department of Homeland Security over immigration enforcement concerns.
—Ignacio Calderon, USA Today, 23 Feb. 2026
Guevara is accused of coercing false confessions and withholding evidence against dozens of murder suspects.
—Victor Jacobo, CBS News, 18 Feb. 2026
Giorgio could be withholding in other ways.
—Gary Baum, HollywoodReporter, 17 Feb. 2026
Democrats are withholding support over concerns about federal immigration enforcement tactics.
—Zachary Schermele, Louisville Courier Journal, 16 Feb. 2026
State education officials have threatened to punish districts where students stage walkouts, including investigations that could result in state takeovers, revoking teaching certificates and withholding daily attendance funding.
—Elissa Jorgensen, Dallas Morning News, 16 Feb. 2026
More severely, two-thirds of Americans believe the federal government is intentionally withholding information, according to a recent poll.
—Kaitlyn Buss, Boston Herald, 8 Feb. 2026
Justin Spike, Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 2026
Priscilla, whose last name CNN is withholding for safety reasons, arrived in the city of Tepic on Saturday.
—Jack Guy, CNN Money, 23 Feb. 2026
Congress is withholding funds from the Department of Homeland Security over immigration enforcement concerns.
—Ignacio Calderon, USA Today, 23 Feb. 2026
Guevara is accused of coercing false confessions and withholding evidence against dozens of murder suspects.
—Victor Jacobo, CBS News, 18 Feb. 2026
Giorgio could be withholding in other ways.
—Gary Baum, HollywoodReporter, 17 Feb. 2026
Democrats are withholding support over concerns about federal immigration enforcement tactics.
—Zachary Schermele, Louisville Courier Journal, 16 Feb. 2026
State education officials have threatened to punish districts where students stage walkouts, including investigations that could result in state takeovers, revoking teaching certificates and withholding daily attendance funding.
—Elissa Jorgensen, Dallas Morning News, 16 Feb. 2026
More severely, two-thirds of Americans believe the federal government is intentionally withholding information, according to a recent poll.
—Kaitlyn Buss, Boston Herald, 8 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for withholding
Verb
-
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth dropped the hammer on Anthropic Friday for denying the military ‘unobstructed’ access to its AI models.—
Reed Albergotti,
semafor.com,
28 Feb. 2026
-
In fact, praying to saints or ancestors elevated them above the status of mere mortals, effectively denying the singular might of God.—
Anand Gopal,
New Yorker,
28 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The gold-tone chain, pebbled finish, and stunning burgundy colorway will complement any outfit, while also keeping important belongings safe.—
Julia Morlino,
Travel + Leisure,
27 Feb. 2026
-
As a producer, what is your responsibility in keeping IP like that fresh and something the audience wants to engage with over time and time again?—
Mia Galuppo,
HollywoodReporter,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
After first refusing to negotiate with Russia, Zelenskyy has repeatedly said that the only way of resolving difficult issues, including territory, is through a meeting with Putin.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
26 Feb. 2026
-
Iran has been refusing requests by the IAEA to inspect the sites bombed in the June war, raising the concerns of nonproliferation experts.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
And perhaps the Nilgiri has something complimentary to say, too, by return of gaze about Bensley’s lovely interiors, which use warm colors and the symbolic palette of Tibetan Buddhism while retaining a quirkiness and insouciance.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
27 Feb. 2026
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Meanwhile, larger total weights like six-carat four-prong studs create a striking presence while retaining timeless simplicity.—
Malana VanTayler,
USA Today,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Two in 5 Gen Zers are pursuing blue-collar fields, rejecting the collegiate path and learning trades, according to a May 2025 survey of 1,434 young adults by Resume Builder.—
Daniel de Visé,
USA Today,
27 Feb. 2026
-
The Kansas Court of Appeals handed CoreCivic its latest in a string of legal defeats, rejecting the private prison company’s argument that it should be allowed to reopen its Leavenworth facility as an immigrant detention center before securing a local zoning permit.—
Matthew Kelly
February 27,
Kansas City Star,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
To cope, Sesko practices box-breathing to calm himself, a technique involving four four-second phases of breathing in, holding your breath before exhaling, and then holding again.—
Ian Irving,
New York Times,
28 Feb. 2026
-
Ryan said Thursday that the man had been wearing orange booties issued by the county holding center, rather than proper shoes suitable for winter weather.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
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During his speech on Tuesday, the President suggested that those prices were declining.—
Chantelle Lee,
Time,
27 Feb. 2026
-
Chelsea have carried significant operating losses in recent years, topping £200m in each of the three seasons before last, as declining revenues combined with significant cost increases.—
Chris Weatherspoon,
New York Times,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Architect and designer Tomoyuki Sakakida prioritized preserving the theater’s exterior.—
Leandra Beabout,
Travel + Leisure,
26 Feb. 2026
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Keeping organized, detailed records of every qualified medical expense is essential for preserving this flexibility.—
Lauren Schuster,
Miami Herald,
26 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Withholding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/withholding. Accessed 2 Mar. 2026.
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