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 union accused the company of human trafficking via social media; charging workers to live in squalid conditions; threatening and intimidating workers and their families; operating with dangerously high production line speeds; and withholding mail from workers.
—
Sam Tabachnik, Denver Post, 16 Mar. 2026
Davis receives substantial federal funding, however, and the federal government has previously threatened to take action against sanctuary cities by withholding funds.
—Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 16 Mar. 2026
Under California’s Public Records Act, the burden of proving a privilege exemption falls on the agency withholding the records — a principle the courts have long recognized and one a 2022 ruling involving Sonoma County reaffirmed.
—Ryan MacAsero, Mercury News, 15 Mar. 2026
In the weeks after the budget passed, proponents of the gambling machines argued Johnson was intentionally withholding a required communication to the Illinois Gaming Board process allowing the state to begin processing Chicago applications.
—Alice Yin, Chicago Tribune, 12 Mar. 2026
Back in 1998, the band accused Biafra of withholding royalties in a lawsuit that forced him to pay his ex-bandmates outstanding payments and punitive damages.
—Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 10 Mar. 2026
The state’s Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, office has pushed cities to be more transparent while withholding its own records.
—David Cuillier, The Conversation, 10 Mar. 2026
The state is withholding Prop 98 funds, Long said.
—Julie Gallant, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Mar. 2026
Before the additional records were released Thursday, Congressional Democrats had accused the Justice Department of illegally withholding the documents to protect the president.
—James Hill, ABC News, 6 Mar. 2026
Sam Tabachnik, Denver Post, 16 Mar. 2026
Davis receives substantial federal funding, however, and the federal government has previously threatened to take action against sanctuary cities by withholding funds.
—Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 16 Mar. 2026
Under California’s Public Records Act, the burden of proving a privilege exemption falls on the agency withholding the records — a principle the courts have long recognized and one a 2022 ruling involving Sonoma County reaffirmed.
—Ryan MacAsero, Mercury News, 15 Mar. 2026
In the weeks after the budget passed, proponents of the gambling machines argued Johnson was intentionally withholding a required communication to the Illinois Gaming Board process allowing the state to begin processing Chicago applications.
—Alice Yin, Chicago Tribune, 12 Mar. 2026
Back in 1998, the band accused Biafra of withholding royalties in a lawsuit that forced him to pay his ex-bandmates outstanding payments and punitive damages.
—Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 10 Mar. 2026
The state’s Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, office has pushed cities to be more transparent while withholding its own records.
—David Cuillier, The Conversation, 10 Mar. 2026
The state is withholding Prop 98 funds, Long said.
—Julie Gallant, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Mar. 2026
Before the additional records were released Thursday, Congressional Democrats had accused the Justice Department of illegally withholding the documents to protect the president.
—James Hill, ABC News, 6 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for withholding
Verb
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This founding tenet of the Bel Paese now looks set to change — ending diaspora dreams of returning to the mother country, and meaning that Italians who move abroad risk denying citizenship to their descendants.—
Julia Buckley,
CNN Money,
14 Mar. 2026
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This year there have been rumors about Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal joining forces for Reiner, but the organizers are neither confirming nor denying that reunion.—
Lindsey Bahr,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The lightweight formula blends grapeseed, olive, sunflower, and camellia oils to melt away sunscreen, makeup, and excess sebum while keeping skin soft and hydrated.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
21 Mar. 2026
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German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the war must end before his country can help with matters such as keeping shipping lanes clear.—
SAM McNEIL,
Arkansas Online,
21 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The creation of a community safety agency was a core campaign promise for Mamdani, who broke with his opponents by refusing to call for an expansion of the police department.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
19 Mar. 2026
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After Thompson kept refusing, Morgan dragged her out of the SUV.—
Bo Evans,
CBS News,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
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If the merger fully goes through, Nexstar would lose the KNWA station while retaining KFTA and KXNW and adding Tegna's KFSM station for their Northwest Arkansas coverage.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
21 Mar. 2026
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But the organization is retaining its wider prohibition against receiving transfusions of others' blood — a procedure routinely used with patients after accidents, violence or other blood loss.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The city was aware that rejecting the contract put at least $90 million in grant funding at risk, Councilwoman Sarah Parady said in December.—
Shelly Bradbury,
Denver Post,
19 Mar. 2026
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Easier, maybe, to imagine Blume rejecting the general proposition of an author biography, which seeks to root a subject’s work in their specific experiences, dislodging them from a supposedly neutral or unmarked position.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Both defenses did a good job, holding the game scoreless through 60 minutes.—
Darren Lauber,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
21 Mar. 2026
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The Tigers had their moments, holding leads both early and late — and fans were certainly excited throughout.—
Dominick Williams,
Kansas City Star,
21 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Haithcock said schools have been financially hamstrung since Act 10 – the Scott Walker-era landmark law in 2011 that curtailed union bargaining power and cut take-home pay for workers – especially amid declining student enrollment.—
Natalie Eilbert,
jsonline.com,
19 Mar. 2026
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While an unconventional choice for the typically squeaky-clean Bachelor franchise, a soft-swinging TikTok influencer turned reality star at first sounded like the 180 the franchise desperately needed after years of declining ratings and a seemingly outdated format amid modern dating culture.—
Jodi Guglielmi,
Rolling Stone,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The naming of Doolysaurus huhmini honors both the fictional icon and the very real Min Huh, a pioneering paleontologist who spent 30 years preserving Korea’s fossil heritage.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
19 Mar. 2026
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Her work documenting and preserving endangered languages uses a little bit of both.—
Emma R. Hasson,
Scientific American,
19 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Withholding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/withholding. Accessed 22 Mar. 2026.
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