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
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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
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
Women’s sports is no different, and placing expectations for greater decorum on it is a way of holding back the game’s growth.
—Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 19 Mar. 2026
The video shows a security guard holding back a male security guard who is moving toward a young man who throws his backpack on the ground, and appears ready to fight as the woman is being handcuffed.
—Charlotte Observer, 12 Mar. 2026
Productivity is rising, but slow deployment is holding back capacity.
—Paul S. Lavoie, Hartford Courant, 11 Mar. 2026
The Hungarian government has recently accused Kyiv of deliberately holding back Russian oil deliveries through the pipeline, which crosses Ukraine's territory.
—Arkansas Online, 5 Mar. 2026
The Hungarian government has recently accused Kyiv of deliberately holding back Russian oil deliveries through the pipeline, which crosses Ukraine’s territory.
—ABC News, 4 Mar. 2026
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
Women’s sports is no different, and placing expectations for greater decorum on it is a way of holding back the game’s growth.
—Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 19 Mar. 2026
The video shows a security guard holding back a male security guard who is moving toward a young man who throws his backpack on the ground, and appears ready to fight as the woman is being handcuffed.
—Charlotte Observer, 12 Mar. 2026
Productivity is rising, but slow deployment is holding back capacity.
—Paul S. Lavoie, Hartford Courant, 11 Mar. 2026
The Hungarian government has recently accused Kyiv of deliberately holding back Russian oil deliveries through the pipeline, which crosses Ukraine's territory.
—Arkansas Online, 5 Mar. 2026
The Hungarian government has recently accused Kyiv of deliberately holding back Russian oil deliveries through the pipeline, which crosses Ukraine’s territory.
—ABC News, 4 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for holding back
Verb
-
The indictment includes the conspiracy count, which carries a maximum sentence of six years in federal prison, as well as several other counts of forcibly impeding a federal officer, each punishable by up to one year in federal prison.—
Jason Meisner,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Apr. 2026
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New research from our team of epidemiologists at University of Southern California and University of California, Irvine, shows that blowing dust is impeding the lung growth of children in the region – especially those living closest to the Salton Sea.—
Jill Johnston,
The Conversation,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
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There are those, however, who do not see regulation as a stifling force.—
Francesca Cassidy,
Fortune,
31 Mar. 2026
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From there, the house unfolds via a traditional footprint that somehow feels soft and inviting instead of stifling.—
Miriam Schwartz,
Hartford Courant,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The council chambers have only one entrance, hampering security and accessibility needs, and the council desk itself is not ADA-compliant.—
Elliot Mann,
Twin Cities,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Some lawmakers think the staff reductions are hampering farmers’ ability to access programs.—
Patricia Kime,
USA Today,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
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In 2026, an injury struck him, hindering his chances of potentially winning events.—
Matthew Couden,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
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The proposal reflects broader concerns Republicans have about regulation and permitting hindering economic development, as House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) explained during a speech at the Hill and Valley Forum on Wednesday.—
Rachel Schilke,
The Washington Examiner,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
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In this study, scientists determined that combining FAK-inhibiting drugs with immunotherapy and chemotherapy yielded the best results in mice in suppressing tumor growth, attracting tumor-fighting immune cells and extending survival.—
Noah Lyons,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
3 Apr. 2026
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Eggs Protein is more satiating than fat or carbohydrates, and your body absorbs protein from eggs particularly well, stimulating PYY and GLP-1, while suppressing ghrelin.—
Lauren Panoff,
Verywell Health,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Speech-language pathologists work with people who have disorders involving speech, language and swallowing, sometimes from injuries, medical conditions or developmental delays.—
Daniel de Visé,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
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When a pet bites into the plant, those crystals embed in mouth tissue, which explains why oral irritation and swallowing difficulty are the primary symptoms.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Harbaugh has taken a blow torch to the Giants’ embarrassing special teams unit.—
Pat Leonard,
New York Daily News,
25 Mar. 2026
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Fairchild played the free-wheeling bon vivant Nora Tyler Bing on five episodes of the sitcom classic, unwittingly embarrassing Perry's Chandler Bing to the delight of his pals.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Massachusetts authorities are searching for an armed suspect accused of robbing a $20 million mansion and tying up a housekeeper in an elaborate heist.—
Julia Bonavita,
FOXNews.com,
31 Mar. 2026
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Running this kind of detection locally on an NPU also offers the obvious advantage of avoiding tying up the usual system resources by offloading to the neural processor.—
John Burek,
PC Magazine,
25 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Holding back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/holding%20back. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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