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
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 holding back
Smith, the playwright, isn’t holding back her enthusiasm for the source material.
—
Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 13 Feb. 2026
Pistons veteran Tobias Harris was holding back Diabate, when the latter threw a punch at Duren, escalating the whole situation.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 10 Feb. 2026
Two temporary rulings had been issued in January, when the states sued, that blocked the federal governmentfrom holding back the funding, with the latest set to expire on Friday.
—Geoff Mulvihill, Chicago Tribune, 7 Feb. 2026
Two temporary rulings had been issued in January that blocked the federal government from holding back the funding, with the latest set to expire on Friday.
—Geoff Mulvihill, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2026
In addition, last year's government shutdown is showing no signs of holding back the company, Bank of America added, as CACI also raised its full year outlook.
—Michael Bloom, CNBC, 7 Feb. 2026
But Maviglio, the Democratic strategist, cautioned that donors and labor unions are holding back because of the crowded field, and labor groups in particular have multiple allies in the ring.
—Oren Oppenheim, ABC News, 5 Feb. 2026
The Epstein files may have brought a challenge closer, but key rivals are holding back, for now.
—Jill Lawless, Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2026
Blanche declined to comment on whether there was still an ongoing investigation related to Epstein's associates, and pushed back on allegations that the Department is selectively holding back files that might be damaging to the President, who has a long history with Epstein going back decades.
—Philip Wang, Time, 30 Jan. 2026
Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 13 Feb. 2026
Pistons veteran Tobias Harris was holding back Diabate, when the latter threw a punch at Duren, escalating the whole situation.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 10 Feb. 2026
Two temporary rulings had been issued in January, when the states sued, that blocked the federal governmentfrom holding back the funding, with the latest set to expire on Friday.
—Geoff Mulvihill, Chicago Tribune, 7 Feb. 2026
Two temporary rulings had been issued in January that blocked the federal government from holding back the funding, with the latest set to expire on Friday.
—Geoff Mulvihill, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2026
In addition, last year's government shutdown is showing no signs of holding back the company, Bank of America added, as CACI also raised its full year outlook.
—Michael Bloom, CNBC, 7 Feb. 2026
But Maviglio, the Democratic strategist, cautioned that donors and labor unions are holding back because of the crowded field, and labor groups in particular have multiple allies in the ring.
—Oren Oppenheim, ABC News, 5 Feb. 2026
The Epstein files may have brought a challenge closer, but key rivals are holding back, for now.
—Jill Lawless, Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2026
Blanche declined to comment on whether there was still an ongoing investigation related to Epstein's associates, and pushed back on allegations that the Department is selectively holding back files that might be damaging to the President, who has a long history with Epstein going back decades.
—Philip Wang, Time, 30 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for holding back
Verb
-
Dozens of felony cases against protesters accused of assaulting or impeding federal officers have also crumbled.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
14 Feb. 2026
-
Dozens of felony cases against protesters accused of assaulting or impeding federal officers have also crumbled.—
Jack Brook,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The Seahawks defensive front was stifling, sacking Patriots second-year quarterback Drake Maye six times.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
9 Feb. 2026
-
The Wolverines’ school-record nine-game winning streak in Big Ten games was snapped by a big and experienced team that plays stifling defense and is led by a 6-foot-7 preseason All-America center who does it all.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The move comes as the container shipping industry at large is reeling from declines in freight rates over the past year, hampering the bottom lines of many carriers.—
Glenn Taylor,
Sourcing Journal,
9 Feb. 2026
-
The outages have affected Anastasia’s work, hampering her ability to respond to clients via messaging apps.—
Yuliya Talmazan,
NBC news,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The instigators were allowed to go beyond peaceful protests to hindering law enforcement from doing their job which escalated with the result of two people tragically losing their lives.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
1 Feb. 2026
-
Anyone raising these concerns last season, when Arsenal finished in a distant second place, would be politely informed that the only curb on their creativity was the injuries that were hindering Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka.—
Oliver Kay,
New York Times,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
But Vance’s false accusations at last year’s conference – that Europe is suppressing freedom of speech and democracy, and facing civilizational decline – are now enshrined in US national security strategy.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN Money,
15 Feb. 2026
-
Reinterpreting the history of slavery has given way to suppressing its memorialization entirely.—
Thomas Chatterton Williams,
The Atlantic,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Artists are tired of swallowing scandals like this.—
Hattie Lindert,
Pitchfork,
6 Feb. 2026
-
These great-tasting liquids can be beneficial for children and adults who have difficulty swallowing tablets.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
One day, Will goes viral after embarrassing ROAR league MVP, Mane Attraction (Aaron Pierre), during a streetball challenge, prompting his favorite team, the Vineland Thorns, to sign him to a season-ending contract in a desperate attempt to juice ticket sales.—
Brian Davids,
HollywoodReporter,
11 Feb. 2026
-
And then Thaddeus’s arm falls off, embarrassing his companions.—
Shirley Li,
The Atlantic,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Mercury retrograde later in the month encourages solitude, forgiveness, and tying up loose emotional ends.—
Dossé-Via Trenou,
Refinery29,
29 Jan. 2026
-
His strategies often involve exploiting legal loopholes and tying up loose ends in court.—
Gavin J. Quinton,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Holding back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/holding%20back. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
