1
as in delay
an instance or period of being prevented from going about one's business
there'll be a holdback on production until the new machinery is fully installed
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in obstacle
something that makes movement or progress difficult
the only holdback to starting the new job is my contractual commitment to my current position
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1
as in to hamper
to create difficulty for the work or activity of
the only thing holding them back from joining the swim team is lack of transportation
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2
as in to stifle
to refrain from openly showing or uttering
held back her tears until she was alone
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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of holdback
Elizabeth Rivelli, Car and Driver, 3 Feb. 2023
There is a six-month holdback for the launch of the English-language versions in France.
—Martin Dale, Variety, 11 Jan. 2023
The New Yorker, 2 Nov. 2024
Economists surveyed by Dow Jones expect the Bureau of Labor Statistics to report Friday that payrolls expanded by just 100,000 on the month, held back by hurricanes Helene and Milton as well as the strike at Boeing.
—Jeff Cox, CNBC, 31 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for holdback 
Noun
The manufacturer pays the holdback price to the dealership once the dealer sells the vehicle.
—Elizabeth Rivelli, Car and Driver, 3 Feb. 2023
There is a six-month holdback for the launch of the English-language versions in France.
—Martin Dale, Variety, 11 Jan. 2023
Verb
For about an hour, while the former President was trained at the fry station, police surrounded the restaurant, holding back pro- and anti-Trump demonstrators and shutting down Street Road, an east-west path on William Penn’s seventeenth-century maps which is today redundantly named.
—The New Yorker, 2 Nov. 2024
Economists surveyed by Dow Jones expect the Bureau of Labor Statistics to report Friday that payrolls expanded by just 100,000 on the month, held back by hurricanes Helene and Milton as well as the strike at Boeing.
—Jeff Cox, CNBC, 31 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for holdback
Recent Examples of Synonyms for holdback
Noun
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PCMag spoke to one reservation holder who cancelled their preorder after learning of the launch delay, unwilling to further delay their car purchase.Emily Dreibelbis Forlini, PCMAG, 7 Nov. 2024
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Osborne said the delay at the Etris Community Center was roughly an hour, and voters were forced to wait outside until law enforcement officers cleared the building.Chris Boyette, CNN, 5 Nov. 2024
Noun
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Despite the obstacles, many countries have committed to mediator roles.Michael Kimmage, Foreign Affairs, 7 Nov. 2024
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Many inferior systems don't provide enough illumination to enable a driver going 55 mph on a straight road to stop in time after spotting an obstacle in the vehicle’s path.Jim Gorzelany, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
Verb
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But it has not been shut down or hampered by government action even under Biden, and the new Trump administration likely also won’t take any action against it.CNN.com, The Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2024
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The massive pier project was hampered by unexpected bad weather and security issues, as well as persistent safety issues involving Israeli forces that prompted aid agencies to halt distribution of the supplies out of fear of being injured and killed.Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2024
Verb
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Junior linebacker Jared Ibarra and senior safety Emmanuel El Shaddai Hill highlight a defense capable of stifling top attacks.Matt Schubert, The Denver Post, 6 Nov. 2024
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These employees say the lack of AI adoption is stifling their productivity.Diane Brady, Fortune, 4 Nov. 2024
Noun
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About two dozen voting locations in Pima County saw wait times of more than 20 minutes.Sasha Hupka, The Arizona Republic, 6 Nov. 2024
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Within the first hour of voting, several voters reported wait times between 30 to 45 minutes.Madison Lammert, Journal Sentinel, 6 Nov. 2024
Noun
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However, those gains have come with some hurdles, including a summer sell-off as sentiment dampened over the payoff from AI.Samantha Subin, CNBC, 5 Nov. 2024
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The outstanding question remains whether or not there’s a surge in AI PC usage that goes along with that more basic hardware hurdle.Zak Doffman, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
Verb
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He was arrested in Savannah and is charged with felony counts of assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers, and obstruction of law enforcement, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Washington, D.C., said in a statement.Phil Helsel, NBC News, 15 Nov. 2024
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Prosecutors were accusing Bundy of possessing firearms in a federal facility and of conspiring to impede federal officers.Matt Thompson, SPIN, 5 Nov. 2024
Verb
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Some voters may view restrictions on electioneering as suppressing their First Amendment rights, Huefner noted.Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 3 Nov. 2024
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At the same time, some argue that voter intimidation implies that someone is trying to suppress voting, not encourage it.Frank Witsil, Detroit Free Press, 2 Nov. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near holdback
Cite this Entry
“Holdback.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/holdback. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
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