1
as in postponed
to assign to a later time
held up mail delivery until we had a permanent address
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in stopped
to bring (something) to a standstill
traffic was held up for miles by the accident
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in hampered
to create difficulty for the work or activity of
if lack of transportation is the only thing holding you up, I can give you a ride
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in survived
to continue to operate or to meet one's needs
the air conditioner held up this year, but it's not going to make it through another summer
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in remained
to remain indefinitely in existence or in the same state
the storm's hurricane-force winds did not hold up once it hit the coast
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in flew
to withstand scrutiny and gain acceptance or approval
an argument that won't hold up in court
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of held up
The Milwaukee Fire Department responded to the scene as the infant was lowered to safety in a car seat carrier held up by what appeared to be a tow strap, local ABC affiliate WXOW reported.
—
Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 4 Feb. 2026
Jr, and Grace Gummer’s Caroline Kennedy, Watts created a multi-texture visual effect with an off-the-shoulder black gown that appeared to be held up by an attached silver chainmail bib.
—Lara Walsh, InStyle, 4 Feb. 2026
In all, the committee approved most of what had been held up, roughly $14 million, for the Corrections Department.
—Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 29 Jan. 2026
In her State of the County speech at Florida Memorial University, a historically Black college, the mayor held up Miami-Dade as an example of a welcoming community.
—Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 29 Jan. 2026
Specifically, on average, silky sharks spent only about 47 percent of their time inside the Galápagos Marine Reserve, an area often held up as a global gold standard for marine protection.
—Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
The case was held up by top Department of Homeland Security officials as an example of the violence and threats immigration agents were facing from gang members and even international drug cartels.
—Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 21 Jan. 2026
It’s been everywhere with her and has held up impressively well, despite constant use.
—Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 16 Jan. 2026
Indeed, their body language and working relationship belies nothing of the boorish, antagonistic dynamic between Governor Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio, whose enmity risked lives (as when Cuomo held up a mass Covid vaccine site in New York due to his beef with de Blasio).
—Literary Hub, 15 Jan. 2026
Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 4 Feb. 2026
Jr, and Grace Gummer’s Caroline Kennedy, Watts created a multi-texture visual effect with an off-the-shoulder black gown that appeared to be held up by an attached silver chainmail bib.
—Lara Walsh, InStyle, 4 Feb. 2026
In all, the committee approved most of what had been held up, roughly $14 million, for the Corrections Department.
—Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 29 Jan. 2026
In her State of the County speech at Florida Memorial University, a historically Black college, the mayor held up Miami-Dade as an example of a welcoming community.
—Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 29 Jan. 2026
Specifically, on average, silky sharks spent only about 47 percent of their time inside the Galápagos Marine Reserve, an area often held up as a global gold standard for marine protection.
—Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
The case was held up by top Department of Homeland Security officials as an example of the violence and threats immigration agents were facing from gang members and even international drug cartels.
—Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 21 Jan. 2026
It’s been everywhere with her and has held up impressively well, despite constant use.
—Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 16 Jan. 2026
Indeed, their body language and working relationship belies nothing of the boorish, antagonistic dynamic between Governor Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio, whose enmity risked lives (as when Cuomo held up a mass Covid vaccine site in New York due to his beef with de Blasio).
—Literary Hub, 15 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for held up
Verb
-
After hearing testimony from about 40 witnesses, the Senate Judiciary Committee postponed a vote on the bill so the sponsors could work on amendments.—
Shaun Boyd,
CBS News,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Delayed until 2024, the third iteration, curated by John Tain, saw its opening temporarily postponed by political protests in the city.—
News Desk,
Artforum,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Now polling suggests the public, and even Republican leaders in Congress, have stopped buying the White House’s claims that federal agents’ paramilitary-style raids only target violent criminals.—
Ben Smith,
semafor.com,
9 Feb. 2026
-
They are focused on the human injustices wrought by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers who have stopped cars on roadsides, rounded up job-seekers and even laid in wait outside hearing rooms to detain people complying with required appearances in immigration court.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Democratic lawmakers condemn Maxwell’s plea Democrats in the House Oversight Committee denounced Maxwell’s request for a presidential pardon and suggested that Trump’s refusal to rule out such a possibility has hampered the committee’s inquiry.—
Miranda Jeyaretnam,
Time,
10 Feb. 2026
-
As has been the case many a time during the season, giveaways hampered Golden State for much of the night.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
She is also survived by siblings Maureen Jolley, Marcus O'Hara, Michael O'Hara, Mary Margaret O'Hara, Tom O'Hara and Patricia Wallice.—
Anthony Robledo,
USA Today,
10 Feb. 2026
-
O’Hara is survived by her husband Welch, sons Matthew and Luke, along with siblings Michael O’Hara, Mary Margaret O’Hara, Maureen Jolley, Marcus O‘Hara, Tom O’Hara and Patricia Wallice.—
Lexy Perez,
HollywoodReporter,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
To his credit, Onana remained at the heart of the battle and was evidently key to Villa staving off Bournemouth’s set-play threat.—
Jacob Tanswell,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
-
The prosecution said a medical report noted Lai’s general health condition remained stable.—
Kanis Leung,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Votes in the House were delayed from Tuesday afternoon to the evening as leadership sought to convince nearly half a dozen GOP holdouts to vote for the measure.—
Rachel Schilke,
The Washington Examiner,
11 Feb. 2026
-
So with official jobs data due out on Wednesday, delayed by several days because of the brief partial government shutdown, analysts say stocks could go even lower on bad news — or even on news that looks too good.—
John Towfighi,
CNN Money,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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However, according to the company, shortly after midnight on January 22, an alarm in the control rod monitoring system halted the withdrawal of one control rod.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Charlotte couldn’t get enough defensive stops down the stretch, however, and saw its nine-game win streak — which was the longest since 1999 — halted.—
Roderick Boone,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The lengthy cord, which is six feet in total, ensures your productivity will never be hindered by a low battery.—
Kelsey Borovinsky,
Architectural Digest,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Whereas Apollo space suits were akin to wearing an inflated balloon that greatly hindered motion, the AxEMU is designed with flexible joints that give astronauts mobility to kneel, jog or even do the splits.—
K. R. Callaway,
Scientific American,
5 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Held up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/held%20up. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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