WITHHOLDS Synonyms: 97 Similar and Opposite Words

withholds

verb

present tense third-person singular of withhold

as in denies

to be unwilling to grant must withhold official approval until all the proper forms have been submitted

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in retains

to continue to have in one's possession or power withhold some money for your own expenses

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of withholds But Li deliberately withholds – for more than 300 pages – how John and Adelaide met. — Heller McAlpin, Christian Science Monitor, 16 Oct. 2026 The league withholds 10% of players’ salaries during the season in escrow, and after BRI is calculated, a portion of that is returned to ensure the proper revenue split between players and owners. — Lev Akabas, Sportico.com, 15 Oct. 2026 The governing lottery body automatically withholds 24% of the prize, leaving the balance to be paid by the winner. — Amaris Encinas, USA Today, 10 Aug. 2026 Iqbal, a migrant Muslim man, drifts through a city that withholds its welcome. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 25 June 2026 Trump has made clear his disdain for NATO, his affection for Putin, gushes over autocrats, and withholds military support for Ukraine. — Arthur House, Hartford Courant, 15 June 2026 For a pivotal scene in which Marji publicly contradicts her teacher’s claim about political prisoners, Satrapi withholds background detail entirely, save for a whisper of trees outside a window. — Hillary Chute, The Atlantic, 9 June 2026 Refusal renames the finding, files it under welfare, trains the behavior down, passes laws foreclosing the question before anyone asks it in court, withholds broadband funding from states that try to answer it, and publishes declarations insisting the answer is already settled. — Jason Snyder, Forbes.com, 17 May 2026 The state withholds a portion of Harvey’s revenue because of the city’s past failure to adequately fund its police and fire pension funds. — Evy Lewis, Chicago Tribune, 17 Apr. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for withholds

Verb

Six women allege offenses dating from 1999 to 2009, and Brand denies the allegations vehemently.

— Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 2 Nov. 2026
El-Sayed denies any ties to the Muslim Brotherhood and has publicly disavowed the group.

— CBS News, CBS News, 2 Nov. 2026

Definition of denies

Verb

While Carlson has long been unaffiliated with the outlet, Patel retains business connections with Carlson, while Carlson’s brother Buckley Carlson has served on the Daily Caller nonprofit’s board.

— Max Tani, semafor.com, 2 Nov. 2026
Georgia recruits elite high school players, develops them, retains them and replaces them with more elite high school players.

— Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 31 Oct. 2026

Definition of retains

Verb

Foreign courts may decide divorce and custody but generally do not have jurisdiction to divide those benefits as a US court can, leaving spouses little recourse if the service member refuses to share them voluntarily.

— Brianna Keilar, CNN Money, 30 Oct. 2026
Many veteran leaders express frustration, claiming that Generation Z lacks loyalty, demands too much flexibility or refuses to put in the grueling hours that previous generations accepted as the standard.

— Kent Ingle, Forbes.com, 30 Oct. 2026

Definition of refuses

Verb

Despite the prevalent literary theme, the hotel keeps more glossy coffee table books than beach reads.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Oct. 2026
The album’s experimental bent is also what keeps the music from slipping into parody or, even worse, po-faced sincerity.

— Sadie Sartini Garner, Pitchfork, 30 Oct. 2026

Definition of keeps

Verb

Remaining steadfast in his dharma (religious and moral principles), Rama rejects all of Lakshmana’s suggestions for resistance and insists that obedience to his father and preservation of righteousness must take precedence over royal position.

— Tamanna Nangia, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Oct. 2026
However, a large percentage of the Brazilian electorate also consistently rejects the prospect of voting for another Bolsonaro for president.

— David Unsworth, FOXNews.com, 25 Oct. 2026

Definition of rejects

Verb

Still, the ratings declines are a problem for Fox and Fox News, which will need to turn things around at some point.

— Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 2 Nov. 2026
Rama asks Lakshmana to share the responsibilities of government and accept the position of heir apparent, but Lakshmana declines.

— Tamanna Nangia, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Oct. 2026

Definition of declines

Verb

The verdict St Vincent possesses an unexplored, get-away-from-it-all tranquillity that many more boisterous Caribbean islands would sell their last rum punch for.

— James Rampton, TheWeek, 3 Nov. 2026
The tri-captain possesses a certain gravitas that has helped drive the Warriors to the Class 2A state championship game, according to junior midfielder and tri-captain Lino Melero.

— Michael Osipoff, Chicago Tribune, 27 Oct. 2026