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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of held back
The series, starring Morris Chestnut, was initially held back for another midseason run on Sundays before being summoned to the fall schedule to fill in for the delayed CIA, landing behind FBI on Mondays.
—
Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 27 Mar. 2026
The airline’s efforts to revive services have been held back by the closure of Qatar’s airspace, alongside the company’s heavier dependence on long-haul corridors that remain constrained.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 25 Mar. 2026
Both global and European population ebbed and flowed from generation to generation, but fundamentally remained static across centuries, held back by truly ferocious rates of infant, childhood, and maternal mortality.
—Literary Hub, 25 Mar. 2026
Consumer sentiment has been generally poor, held back primarily by those at the lower end of the income spectrum who are hit particularly hard by higher prices.
—Jeff Cox, CNBC, 25 Mar. 2026
Two-thirds of children who were held back had summer birthdays between June and August — near the kindergarten enrollment cutoff dates in most states — and would have been young for their grade.
—Kate Sequeira, Los Angeles Times, 24 Mar. 2026
The tide, however, has turned around since 2024 after former ECB President Mario Draghi’s report for the European Commission, which argued that Europe’s economy is being held back by outdated competition rules.
—Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 20 Mar. 2026
His wife and sister held back tears as the prosecution discussed surveillance video that allegedly showed Castellanos and another person chasing Lopez toward 3rd Street and Everett Street before attacking him.
—Mike Sullivan, CBS News, 20 Mar. 2026
Past Presidents held back on attacking Iran for fear of damaging America’s legitimacy or its interests, broadly construed.
—David Remnick, New Yorker, 17 Mar. 2026
Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 27 Mar. 2026
The airline’s efforts to revive services have been held back by the closure of Qatar’s airspace, alongside the company’s heavier dependence on long-haul corridors that remain constrained.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 25 Mar. 2026
Both global and European population ebbed and flowed from generation to generation, but fundamentally remained static across centuries, held back by truly ferocious rates of infant, childhood, and maternal mortality.
—Literary Hub, 25 Mar. 2026
Consumer sentiment has been generally poor, held back primarily by those at the lower end of the income spectrum who are hit particularly hard by higher prices.
—Jeff Cox, CNBC, 25 Mar. 2026
Two-thirds of children who were held back had summer birthdays between June and August — near the kindergarten enrollment cutoff dates in most states — and would have been young for their grade.
—Kate Sequeira, Los Angeles Times, 24 Mar. 2026
The tide, however, has turned around since 2024 after former ECB President Mario Draghi’s report for the European Commission, which argued that Europe’s economy is being held back by outdated competition rules.
—Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 20 Mar. 2026
His wife and sister held back tears as the prosecution discussed surveillance video that allegedly showed Castellanos and another person chasing Lopez toward 3rd Street and Everett Street before attacking him.
—Mike Sullivan, CBS News, 20 Mar. 2026
Past Presidents held back on attacking Iran for fear of damaging America’s legitimacy or its interests, broadly construed.
—David Remnick, New Yorker, 17 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for held back
Verb
-
His ability to hold runners has hampered him.—
Shawn McFarland,
Dallas Morning News,
24 Mar. 2026
-
Jospin never embraced his role as a public figure, hampered by a restrained personality that grew even stiffer in front of cameras.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
While there is no law in Connecticut explicitly prohibiting the use of plug-in panels, also known as balcony solar, the need for interconnection agreements with local utilities and a lack of clear regulations has effectively stifled their widespread adoption, experts say.—
John Moritz,
Hartford Courant,
25 Mar. 2026
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Fisherman and former drug addict Dave has lived his whole life there, equally stifled and saved by his surroundings.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Noem's contract review policy disproportionately hindered FEMA, which awards massive contracts and funds disaster aid projects that frequently exceed $100,000.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
29 Mar. 2026
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However, a budget managed by Congress with limited long-term visibility, coupled with a slow contracting process hindered by bureaucracy, creates some roadblocks.—
Samantha Subin,
CNBC,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
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That melatonin your brain just started producing gets suppressed again immediately.—
Allison Palmer,
Miami Herald,
31 Mar. 2026
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That means speech around controversial issues, diet and fitness, mental health topics, sexuality, and much more will be suppressed.—
Elizabeth Nolan Brown,
Oc Register,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Industry leaders also say the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping route now being impeded by the war, must reopen by mid-April or supply disruptions could worsen significantly.—
Dylan Butts,
CNBC,
30 Mar. 2026
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The Patriarchate said that the decision impeded freedom of worship and the status quo in Jerusalem.—
Melanie Lidman,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
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In Aden alone, the count is in the hundreds — most of them swallowed by a secret prison network managed by the UAE and its affiliated forces, where torture, beatings and abuse were common, according to the Yemeni government, human rights organizations and the United Nations.—
Nabih Bulos,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Mar. 2026
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Another recall targeted Sunnyyes LED mini lights, which were sold on Amazon between March 2024 and March 2026, and contain coin batteries that can be easily accessed and then potentially swallowed.—
Amanda Greenwood,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Former head coach Brian Daboll’s charge to the medical tent and behavior towards one of the Giants’ doctors also embarrassed the team.—
Pat Leonard,
New York Daily News,
23 Mar. 2026
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Tonight’s ceremony had none of the major dramatic mishaps that have both embarrassed the Academy Awards’ organizers and affirmed the event’s status as must-see live TV.—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Prosecutors said Insua’s view was obstructed by the cargo, a deckhouse and crane on the barge.—
David Goodhue,
Sun Sentinel,
31 Mar. 2026
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Full-palm tactile sensing allows the robot to continue manipulating objects even when cameras are obstructed or when precise force control is required, such as in assembly tasks.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
30 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Held back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/held%20back. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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