Synonyms of holding back

holding back

verb

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

• impeding
• hampering
• hindering
• embarrassing
• interfering (with)
• tying up
• obstructing
• tieing up
• handicapping
• holding up
• trammelling
• giving a hard time
• inhibiting
• cramping one's style
• delaying
• cramping
• clogging
• manacling
• encumbering
• disrupting
• restraining
• hobbling
• stymieing
• handcuffing
• shackling
• fettering
• blocking
• constraining
• tieing
• tying
• bogging (down)
• frustrating
• short-circuiting
• thwarting
• trammeling
• binding
• hog-tying
• checking
• curbing
• braking
• hedging (in)
• reining
• stifling
• balking
• retaining
• hemming (in)
• retarding
• tethering
• leashing
• chaining
• arresting
• strangling
• baffling
• barricading
• choking
• blockading
• haltering
• confining
• sabotaging
• derailing
• foiling
• suffocating
• miring
• stumping
• roadblocking
• smothering
• repressing
• muzzling
• suppressing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• helping
• assisting
• facilitating
• aiding
• opening
• making way
• clearing
• releasing
• freeing
• liberating
• promoting
• unplugging
• smoothing
• loosening
• encouraging
• unstopping
• unclogging
• furthering
• untying
• untieing

2

as in stifling

to refrain from openly showing or uttering

held back her tears until she was alone

Synonyms & Similar Words

• stifling
• choking (back)
• suppressing
• swallowing
• repressing
• containing
• controlling
• managing
• strangling
• smothering
• submerging
• pocketing
• sinking
• governing
• bottling up
• checking
• curbing
• quashing
• quelling
• bridling
• muffling
• squelching

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• taking out
• expressing
• releasing
• venting
• unleashing
• loosing