holding back

verb

Definition of holding backnext
present participle of hold back
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

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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

Examples Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for holding back
  1. impeding
  2. stifling
  3. suppressing
  4. swallowing
  5. obstructing
Verb
  • Ficus tree roots can lift and split concrete walkways, potentially impeding pedestrian movement.
    Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 23 Dec. 2024
  • If the bill somehow does not pass before a midnight deadline, the government will shut down, putting federal employees on unpaid furlough and potentially impeding the function of numerous government departments and programs just before Christmas.
    Gord Magill, Newsweek, 21 Dec. 2024
Definition of impeding
Verb
  • The weaponization committee also focused heavily on the FBI and gave a voice to agents who felt the FBI’s punishment for whistleblowers — suspending their security clearances — was stifling and prevented rank-and-file employees from speaking up about internal problems.
    Ashley Oliver, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 20 Dec. 2024
  • Still, there is no stifling László’s belief in beauty.
    Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 20 Dec. 2024
Definition of stifling
Verb
  • Instead of suppressing your emotions, practice emotional validation—acknowledge and accept your feelings without judgment.
    Mark Travers, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024
  • Ice protects fish eggs by suppressing winds and waves that can stir up the sediment, reducing the number of fish that hatch in the spring.
    Caitlin Looby, Journal Sentinel, 23 Dec. 2024
Definition of suppressing
Verb
  • Kids older than one year can be given honey to help neutralize the damage, but swallowing a button battery is a life-threatening emergency for which parents should immediately seek medical care.
    Ryan Murphy, The Indianapolis Star, 24 Dec. 2024
  • Similarly, applying a wellness patch is painless in comparison to swallowing a handful of pills.
    Emily Burns, WWD, 23 Dec. 2024
Definition of swallowing
Verb
  • Kaitlyn Hall, 25, and James Hamilton, 26, are each charged with two counts of obstructing justice.
    Quinlan Bentley, The Enquirer, 22 Dec. 2024
  • Sanchez has pleaded not guilty to charges of trafficking drugs, laundering money, obstructing justice, carjacking, kidnapping and murdering two women.
    Matthew Ormseth, Los Angeles Times, 20 Dec. 2024
Definition of obstructing
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 holding back

holding a candle to

holding back

holding down

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Cite this Entry

“Holding back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/holding%20back. Accessed 30 Dec. 2024.

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