1
as in delays
an instance or period of being prevented from going about one's business
there'll be a holdback on production until the new machinery is fully installed
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in obstacles
something that makes movement or progress difficult
the only holdback to starting the new job is my contractual commitment to my current position
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of holdbacks
Lawmakers are expected to vote Friday on whether to approve and extend the holdbacks that led to the 4% rate cuts.
—
Becca Savransky, Idaho Statesman, 6 Feb. 2026
Becca Savransky, Idaho Statesman, 6 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for holdbacks
Noun
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The hazardous conditions could make travel difficult with delays and chain controls.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
7 Feb. 2026
-
The Justice Department has come under criticism for delays in the release of information, failing to redact the personal information and photos of victims and not releasing the entire 6 million documents collected in relation to Epstein.—
Stephen Groves,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Feb. 2026
Noun
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While officials have described the talks as constructive, major obstacles remain, chief among them the future of territory in eastern Ukraine where Moscow has shown little sign of softening its demands.—
Freddie Clayton,
NBC news,
8 Feb. 2026
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When the car finally got moving, protesters began throwing obstacles in its path — Lime scooters, bicycles, seemingly anything that might trigger the car’s automatic anti-collision braking system.—
Evan Minsker,
Rolling Stone,
7 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Navigating rigid work schedules, complex appointment systems, and long waits at the doctor’s office offers a whole other set of issues.—
Dan Amos,
Time,
4 Feb. 2026
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At that pace, long waits are facing most of the roughly 20,000 sick and wounded people who Gaza’s Health Ministry has said need treatment abroad.—
Wafaa Shurafa,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Long charging times and limited ranges are still two major hurdles that deter many potential EV buyers.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
12 Feb. 2026
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Industries with heavy regulatory hurdles, where adoption will be slowed by compliance, liability, and institutional inertia.—
Matt Shumer,
Fortune,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Check slopes for bare spots, holes and obstructions, like rocks, fences or poles.—
Greta Cross,
USA Today,
29 Jan. 2026
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Flat roofs with parapets (side walls), stepped roofs, saw-tooth roofs, and roofs with chimneys and other obstructions on top can collect snow in an unbalanced manner, the agency said.—
Bailey Allen,
The Providence Journal,
28 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Skip thin plastic mulches and cheap fabrics and use shredded leaves, wood chips, cardboard, or durable, reusable barriers.—
Dr. Avishesh Neupane,
Hartford Courant,
7 Feb. 2026
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Paying visitors were forced to take cover when some tourists stood behind the barriers and flung coins down on them from above.—
Maureen O'Hare,
CNN Money,
7 Feb. 2026
Noun
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But anomaly detection may have prevented embarrassments like the one at OPERA.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
3 Feb. 2026
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All the teams ran largely reliably and there were no major embarrassments playing out in front of the public and the media.—
Luke Smith,
New York Times,
31 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Holdbacks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/holdbacks. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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