held back

verb

Definition of held backnext
past tense of hold back
1
as in hampered
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 stifled
to refrain from openly showing or uttering held back her tears until she was alone

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Examples Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for held back
  1. stifled
  2. suppressed
  3. swallowed
  4. obstructed
Verb
  • But Austin Vance, CEO and cofounder of software development and consultant agency Focused Labs, countered in an email statement that this legislation actually would have stifled innovation from new players and entrenched the dominance of big companies including Google, Amazon and Meta.
    Megan Poinski, Forbes, 3 Oct. 2024
  • The suit alleges that NASCAR and France operate without transparency, have stifled competition, and control the sport in ways that unfairly benefits them at the expense of team owners, drivers, sponsors, partners and fans.
    Jessica Golden,Sara Eisen, CNBC, 2 Oct. 2024
Definition of stifled
Verb
  • If so, keep in mind that this is happening to remind you of your adaptability and the natural inclination to take action that’s been suppressed for far too long.
    Meghan Rose, Glamour, 1 Oct. 2024
  • Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer ruled on Monday, September 30 that Gutierrez-Reed will serve out the remainder of her 18-month sentence, and her attorney’s bid for a new trial was denied after it was found there was evidence suppressed in the involuntary manslaughter case against Alec Baldwin.
    Brian Welk, IndieWire, 30 Sep. 2024
Definition of suppressed
Verb
  • In one video, more than half of one company building was swallowed by floodwaters.
    Alisha Ebrahimji, CNN, 4 Oct. 2024
  • When To See Comet A3 This Weekend Comet A3 will now dip into the sun’s glare, and be much harder to see for a few days before being swallowed-up completely by our star’s light.
    Jamie Carter, Forbes, 2 Oct. 2024
Definition of swallowed
Verb
  • There is more programming ahead about the importance of battleground states, how to get others in the community to vote, the rules for early voting and how to ensure your rights are not obstructed at the ballot box.
    Alphonso David, Essence, 1 Oct. 2024
  • The ranger alleged that Dorsett had interfered and obstructed him from performing his law enforcement duties.
    Alex Riggins, The Mercury News, 30 Sep. 2024
Definition of obstructed
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.

Thesaurus Entries Near held back

held a candle to

held back

held down

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Held back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/held%20back. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

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