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 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 In some cases, benefit offsets (where the VA withholds part of your monthly benefit to repay a debt) can be adjusted to reduce the financial strain. — Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 3 Mar. 2026 The episode withholds the information that the incoming stew is Ellie, notoriously explosive, competitive, and a poor receiver of feedback, until the very end. — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 17 Feb. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for withholds

Verb

United Nations experts, the United States and Congo's government have in the past accused Rwanda of profiting off Congo’s minerals in exchange for its support to the rebels, which Rwanda denies.

— ABC News, ABC News, 21 Sep. 2026
Because the therapy is off-label, insurance routinely denies coverage, forcing clinicians and patients to improvise — a frustration that Dombo experienced firsthand.

— Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 19 Sep. 2026

Definition of denies

Verb

For all its trials and tribulations, Chicagoland retains enviable advantages vis-a-vis other metro areas, but its growth over more than a decade seriously lags many of those peer regions.

— The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 20 Sep. 2026
China Arms reported that the Type 99B retains the Type 99 family’s 125 mm smoothbore gun, autoloader and three-person crew configuration.

— Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 20 Sep. 2026

Definition of retains

Verb

This is an issue that, to my mind, keeps nipping at the heels of the current crop of directorial It Boys.

— Sara Holdren, Vulture, 18 Sep. 2026
If Windows crashes or won't boot, those extras disappear, but JetKVM itself keeps working because it is still connected directly to the computer's screen, keyboard and mouse.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of keeps

Verb

Hall of Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice holds the NFL record with a catch in 274 straight games.

— Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 21 Sep. 2026
The Security Council has been unable to take action to end the conflict because permanent member Russia holds a veto.

— Antoni Slodkowski Reuters, Arkansas Online, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of holds

Verb

Indeed, in her devotion to sparkle, Pechman declines to probe too deeply into any of the industry’s more hurtful or exploitative dimensions.

— Natalia Winkelman, Variety, 20 Sep. 2026
At the same time, some longtime communities have seen Latino population declines, including Logan Square, Avondale, Albany Park, Irving Park and Pilsen.

— Allison Kiehl, Chicago Tribune, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of declines

Verb

Such authority derives from followers’ belief that a leader possesses exceptional qualities or abilities.

— Morgan Shipley, The Conversation, 21 Sep. 2026
Cutting overseas dependency China possesses extensive rubidium and cesium reserves locked inside specialty lithium ores and salt-lake brines.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 15 Sep. 2026