1
as in denying
to be unwilling to grant
must withhold official approval until all the proper forms have been submitted
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in keeping
to continue to have in one's possession or power
withhold some money for your own expenses
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of withholding
The states are asking the court to block USDA from enforcing the conditions, vacate them entirely, and prevent the agency from withholding funds from states, school districts or other sub‑recipients.
—
Jenni Fink, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
That’s not a sign of him withholding his opinion, though.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 28 Mar. 2026
For now, Delta appears to be alone among major airlines in withholding special perks from Congress during the shutdown.
—Dallas Morning News, 26 Mar. 2026
Employees and employers split the cost equally, although employers are responsible for withholding their workers’ portion.
—Kat Boogaard, CNBC, 24 Mar. 2026
Related Stories However much withholding an album from streaming might seem counterintuitive in 2026, that actually served to draw attention to the project.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 23 Mar. 2026
But Attorney General Rob Bonta’s office said in a statement to The Bee that the legal expenses more than paid for themselves when the state won back $188 billion in money that Congress had appropriated, but the administration was withholding.
—Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 23 Mar. 2026
In the filing, O’Connell accused Garza of secretly negotiating with city officials and withholding information that could help clear a police officer set to stand trial this summer — a claim that, if true, could represent a serious breach of prosecutorial ethics and potentially upend the case.
—Tony Plohetski, Austin American Statesman, 19 Mar. 2026
Democrats accuse the Justice Department of withholding too many files and making careless redactions that exposed intimate details about victims.
—Alanna Durkin Richer, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2026
Jenni Fink, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
That’s not a sign of him withholding his opinion, though.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 28 Mar. 2026
For now, Delta appears to be alone among major airlines in withholding special perks from Congress during the shutdown.
—Dallas Morning News, 26 Mar. 2026
Employees and employers split the cost equally, although employers are responsible for withholding their workers’ portion.
—Kat Boogaard, CNBC, 24 Mar. 2026
Related Stories However much withholding an album from streaming might seem counterintuitive in 2026, that actually served to draw attention to the project.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 23 Mar. 2026
But Attorney General Rob Bonta’s office said in a statement to The Bee that the legal expenses more than paid for themselves when the state won back $188 billion in money that Congress had appropriated, but the administration was withholding.
—Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 23 Mar. 2026
In the filing, O’Connell accused Garza of secretly negotiating with city officials and withholding information that could help clear a police officer set to stand trial this summer — a claim that, if true, could represent a serious breach of prosecutorial ethics and potentially upend the case.
—Tony Plohetski, Austin American Statesman, 19 Mar. 2026
Democrats accuse the Justice Department of withholding too many files and making careless redactions that exposed intimate details about victims.
—Alanna Durkin Richer, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for withholding
Verb
-
Sorokin was locked in from the drop of the puck, denying Colin Blackwell on a shorthanded breakaway 10 minutes in and making a handful of other 10-bell saves on quality scoring chances in the first period alone.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Wasn’t Israel already systematically denying medical, food and fuel relief headed to Gaza?—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Bulls players stopped keeping a keen eye on the standings after going winless in February.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Investors fear that the war will disrupt the Persian Gulf's energy industry for a long time, setting off a punishing wave of global inflation by keeping large amounts of oil and natural gas out of global markets.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
In addition to the DUI, Woods faces additional charges for refusing the urine test.—
Emily Mae Czachor,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026
-
He was jailed on a count of DUI after refusing to take a urine test, which carries an additional charge.—
Jessica Schladebeck,
New York Daily News,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Forget air conditioning and retaining dedicated teachers.—
Laura Einhorn,
Mercury News,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Network changes Though Fox is retaining rights to a Saturday package, a league championship series and the World Series, MLB’s national TV landscape also is changing.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Owens made the case that under the stadium incentive package approved by lawmakers in 2024 and the tentative STAR bond agreement negotiated by Toland on behalf of the state, rejecting the sports authority bill would only give the executive branch more control over the project.—
Matthew Kelly,
Kansas City Star,
28 Mar. 2026
-
They are socialized in a world of makeup tutorials, fashion magazines, and objectifying advertisements—not to mention feminist commentary and pop songs about rejecting or healthily navigating image standards.—
Spencer Kornhaber,
The Atlantic,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Iran's players sing the national anthem, holding school bags symbolizing children killed at a school in Minab, before a soccer match between Iran and Nigeria, in Antalya, Turkey, on March 27, 2026.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Temptations to overspend will surface, but the key is holding steady without being rigid.—
Kirah Tabourn,
Condé Nast Traveler,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
European luxury is entering a high-stakes first-quarter reporting period as sentiment has taken a decisive hit, just as many of the sector's big names were nearing a turning point after years of declining sales.—
Elsa Ohlen,
CNBC,
2 Apr. 2026
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The Royal Navy has shrunk dramatically since the Cold War ended, with combat-ready ships declining from 166 in 1975 to 66 in 2025, following decades of military spending cuts.—
Pan Pylas,
Los Angeles Times,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
City backers and project leaders tasked the Beltline with building or preserving 5,600 housing units at rates below market-rate while simultaneously delivering a 22-mile trail loop by the end of 2030.—
Zachary Hansen,
AJC.com,
2 Apr. 2026
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Importantly, this approach is not specific to preserving just this species of squirrel.—
Eve Bohnett,
The Conversation,
2 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Withholding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/withholding. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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