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
Tom Yulsman, Discover Magazine, 8 Nov. 2024
Yet, uncertainty has held back some spending already.
—Susan Tompor, Detroit Free Press, 6 Nov. 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
During October, growth of the floating ice was held back by significantly warmer temperatures than average.
—Tom Yulsman, Discover Magazine, 8 Nov. 2024
Yet, uncertainty has held back some spending already.
—Susan Tompor, Detroit Free Press, 6 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for holdback
Recent Examples of Synonyms for holdback
Noun
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Nvidia previously faced production and shipping delays for Blackwell due to a design flaw, Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang said in October, after media reports surfaced in August.Britney Nguyen, Quartz, 19 Nov. 2024
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The latest: Travelers heading out of the airport should expect delays on North Harbor Drive near West Laurel Street/Anchor Island this week.Kate Murphy, Axios, 19 Nov. 2024
Noun
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Advertisement World & Nation Israel faces deeper isolation after Netanyahu is targeted for arrest by ICC Nov. 21, 2024 Aid groups say the looting is one of many obstacles to getting food and other vital aid to the territory’s 2.3 million Palestinians.Wafaa Shurafa and Fatma Khaled, Los Angeles Times, 22 Nov. 2024
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And while Biden never used the bully pulpit to push for it, Manchin and Sinema were the chief obstacles to any kind of filibuster carve-out for voting rights or codifying Roe after the Dobbs disaster.Matt Robison, Newsweek, 21 Nov. 2024
Verb
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Production was also hampered during the writers’ and actors’ strikes last year, further delaying Season 3.Nardine Saad, Los Angeles Times, 20 Nov. 2024
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Officials aim to finalize the agreement by 2026, but disputes over binding commitments have hampered talks.Amir Daftari, Newsweek, 20 Nov. 2024
Verb
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Russell Wilson engineered an offense that moved the ball well enough to set up Chris Boswell’s franchise record-tying six field goals, and the defense stifled the Ravens.Jack Magruder, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024
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Trying to break up Google harks back to a similar punishment initially imposed on Microsoft a quarter century ago following another major antitrust trial that culminated in a federal judge deciding the software maker had illegally used his Windows operating system for PCs to stifle competition.CBS News, CBS News, 20 Nov. 2024
Noun
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Despite the dragging wait times and the pervasive hopelessness, many of the 170 Afghan journalists in exile in Pakistan continue to speak out against the Taliban.Trisha Mukherjee, ABC News, 21 Nov. 2024
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The Singapore Changi Airport boasts shorter wait times for security and baggage claims and an impressive 4.7 stars out of five for its Google review.Kaitlyn McInnis, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024
Noun
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The news sparked a relief rally among investors, boosting confidence in the company’s ability to navigate regulatory hurdles.Vinamrata Chaturvedi, Quartz, 19 Nov. 2024
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Yet, achieving this alignment is challenging due to three significant hurdles: change, challenge, and choice.Kevin Kruse, Forbes, 6 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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According to Richard Seager, a climate scientist at Columbia University’s Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, the cause of the current drought is some random atmospheric variability: a high-pressure system over the central and eastern United States that is suppressing rainfall and refusing to budge.M. R. O’Connor, The New Yorker, 20 Nov. 2024
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How to cope right now Don’t suppress your emotions, process them In the immediate aftermath of the election results, you may be flooded with emotions ranging from despair to rage.Allie Volpe, Vox, 11 Nov. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near holdback
Cite this Entry
“Holdback.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/holdback. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
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