holding off

verb

present participle of hold off
1
as in turning back

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2
as in putting off

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Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for holding off
  1. turning back
  2. putting off
  3. turning away
  4. breaking off
  5. withstanding
  6. shelving
  7. resisting
  8. postponing
Verb
  • Exhausted after turning back a Spain barrage in a scoreless draw to start this tournament, Vozinha released tears as memorable as Messi’s.
    — Jerry Brewer, New York Times, 20 July 2026
  • The front-9 and the beginning of the back-9 holes play mostly away from the coastline, but play moves back towards the Moray Firth on the par-4 13th, hugging the waterline for the 14th, 15th, and 16th holes before turning back towards the clubhouse.
    — Zach Schenfisch, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026
Definition of turning back
Verb
  • Home Depot and Lowe’s both told investors this year that homeowners are putting off larger home improvement projects – those often associated with fixer-upper homes.
    — Samantha Delouya, CNN Money, 17 July 2026
  • Across the country, park agencies struggling with these dire conditions are responding by putting off maintenance for trails and forests to save money, said Ray.
    — Assistant Editor, Los Angeles Times, 15 July 2026
Definition of putting off
Verb
  • At present, prison abolitionists have demanded new conditions for addressing racial capital, turning away from the brutal system of punitive measures to a framework of racial repair.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 27 July 2026
  • Some are even turning away from other top-tier brands due to lack of transparency.
    — Paige Reddinger, Robb Report, 26 July 2026
Definition of turning away
Verb
  • Now, though, some branches are breaking off.
    — Ann Manov, Harpers Magazine, 23 June 2026
  • In November 1987, after breaking off her engagement with Estevez, Moore married Bruce in Las Vegas.
    — Chanel Vargas, InStyle, 21 June 2026
Definition of breaking off
Verb
  • The Swiss defense held its own, withstanding many Argentina chances and eventually taking the reigning champions to extra time.
    — Jacob Lev, CNN Money, 11 July 2026
  • Natividad's great-great-great grandfather adapted and so did his descendants ‒ withstanding every new attempt to erase their language, culture or traditions.
    — Lauren Villagran, USA Today, 28 June 2026
Definition of withstanding
Verb
  • Access to another exit near the kitchen might also have been narrowed by shelving units and lockers, said Kittharath, who visited the scene Monday morning.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 13 July 2026
  • Executives also weighed shelving a target that would have had Microsoft match its hourly data center electricity use with renewables.
    — Matt Day, Fortune, 9 July 2026
Definition of shelving
Verb
  • Also on Wednesday, Saudi Arabia struck Iranian proxies in Iraq, after months of resisting being pulled into the conflict.
    — Salma Arafa, CNN Money, 30 July 2026
  • Scott Lauck, a spokesperson for the office, said in an email Thursday that one of the juveniles was charged with two counts of misdemeanor assault, while the other was charged with one count of resisting arrest, also a misdemeanor.
    — Nathan Pilling July 30, Kansas City Star, 30 July 2026
Definition of resisting
Verb
  • But for a growing share of Gen Z and Millennials priced out or postponing traditional markers of adulthood, working on our bodies at the gym has become the home fixer-upper project.
    — Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN Money, 23 July 2026
  • Put your quick mind to work by starting the task everyone keeps postponing, and let your wit warm the room instead of cutting through it.
    — Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 11 July 2026
Definition of postponing
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.

Browse Nearby Words

holding (in)
holding off
holding off (on)
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Cite this Entry

“Holding off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/holding%20off. Accessed 1 Aug. 2026.

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