1
as in impeding
to create difficulty for the work or activity of
the only thing holding them back from joining the swim team is lack of transportation
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in stifling
to refrain from openly showing or uttering
held back her tears until she was alone
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of holding back
Jack Antonoff isn’t holding back on his thoughts on music makers who use artificial intelligence.
—
Carly Thomas, HollywoodReporter, 14 May 2026
Plus, Superjumbo has been holding back on things like listening parties and has turned down artists that wanted to do in-store performances because of the limited space, according to Mancuso.
—R. Christian Smith, Chicago Tribune, 1 May 2026
Ukraine has developed cutting-edge and battle-tested drone technology that has proved essential in holding back Russia’s bigger army and has drawn military interest from around the world.
—ABC News, 28 Apr. 2026
The art world has been in a recession for 15 years, galleries are closing, young collectors are holding back, and artists trying to make it in the major market centers are living on the brink of poverty.
—Magnus Resch, ARTnews.com, 27 Apr. 2026
As multiple world powers invest heavily in Ukrainian expertise and joint production with the Ukrainian government and private companies, only the Pentagon is holding back.
—Trudy Rubin, Mercury News, 24 Apr. 2026
As each mourner spoke, some holding back tears and others sobbing, Metayer’s family watched in loving silence.
—Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 4 Apr. 2026
These two characters have been holding back all season and not talking to each other, and this was the moment to let everything out.
—William Earl, Variety, 28 Mar. 2026
Claire, holding back tears, attempts CPR.
—Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 20 Mar. 2026
Carly Thomas, HollywoodReporter, 14 May 2026
Plus, Superjumbo has been holding back on things like listening parties and has turned down artists that wanted to do in-store performances because of the limited space, according to Mancuso.
—R. Christian Smith, Chicago Tribune, 1 May 2026
Ukraine has developed cutting-edge and battle-tested drone technology that has proved essential in holding back Russia’s bigger army and has drawn military interest from around the world.
—ABC News, 28 Apr. 2026
The art world has been in a recession for 15 years, galleries are closing, young collectors are holding back, and artists trying to make it in the major market centers are living on the brink of poverty.
—Magnus Resch, ARTnews.com, 27 Apr. 2026
As multiple world powers invest heavily in Ukrainian expertise and joint production with the Ukrainian government and private companies, only the Pentagon is holding back.
—Trudy Rubin, Mercury News, 24 Apr. 2026
As each mourner spoke, some holding back tears and others sobbing, Metayer’s family watched in loving silence.
—Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 4 Apr. 2026
These two characters have been holding back all season and not talking to each other, and this was the moment to let everything out.
—William Earl, Variety, 28 Mar. 2026
Claire, holding back tears, attempts CPR.
—Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 20 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for holding back
Verb
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At only 32 inches wide and just over a foot deep, this chest of drawers provides ample storage space without impeding a walkway or taking over your small bedroom.—
Kate McGregor,
Architectural Digest,
13 May 2026
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The insurance industry has pushed back, arguing the bill would ultimately make coverage less affordable by impeding accurate pricing.—
Jeremy Gorner,
Chicago Tribune,
11 May 2026
Verb
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The open-source software movement, partly a political project to protect the freedom to tinker and prevent corporate oligarchies from stifling innovation, would become a cornerstone of the technology industry.—
Jonathan Weber,
Fortune,
19 May 2026
-
If the temperature in your home is stifling, stay low to the ground.—
Hallie Milstein,
Southern Living,
18 May 2026
Verb
-
Snakes become entangled in the traps, hampering movement.—
Lee Wallender,
The Spruce,
18 May 2026
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Further hampering communication is the high level of turnover in the top ranks of BSO personnel who work at the airport.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
13 May 2026
Verb
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Officials say that bright sunlight hindering the driver's vision could be a possible contributing factor.—
WCCO Staff,
CBS News,
9 May 2026
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The state law DeSantis signed last summer bars local governments from enforcing regulations hindering the construction or operation of a presidential library, as defined by the federal Presidential Libraries Act.—
Claire Heddles,
Miami Herald,
8 May 2026
Verb
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Their basic antitrust allegation was that NCAA member schools fixed prices by limiting the number of slots for coach employees, thus suppressing opportunities and wages.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
15 May 2026
-
Renovations of the House chamber will force members to meet at the Old State Capitol, where, decades ago, Mississippi lawmakers passed Jim Crow laws suppressing Black voting.—
Jack Brook,
Chicago Tribune,
11 May 2026
Verb
-
Second, foundational models are swallowing the application layer.—
Vivian Toh,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
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Hundreds of pages of incident reports paint a disturbing picture — a 12-year-old convulsing after apparently swallowing an unknown object, a 15-year-old cutting a large gash in her arm with pieces of a broken toilet, residents stabbing staffers with wooden shards from a broken bed frame.—
Samantha Rappaport,
CBS News,
18 May 2026
Verb
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Lutnick's voluntary closed-door interview comes amid a monthslong procession of powerful people summoned before the committee, many of whom have been subjected to embarrassing revelations in the more than 3 million pages of records known as the Epstein files.—
Graham Kates,
CBS News,
6 May 2026
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The Game 4 defeat – the no-silver-lining, embarrassing 6-1 loss – left a particularly rancid taste in everyone’s mouth.—
Steve Conroy,
Boston Herald,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Thirty seconds later, Faber’s shot from the point ticked off Heiskanen’s glove and past Oettinger, tying up the game 1-1.—
Michael Russo,
New York Times,
26 Apr. 2026
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Mubadala has recently become one of the most aggressive Gulf sovereign wealth funds, embarking on a dealmaking spree, tying up with some of the biggest names in global finance, and taking a more active role leading on investments rather than being a passive capital provider.—
Matthew Martin,
semafor.com,
9 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Holding back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/holding%20back. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
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