HOLDBACKS Synonyms: 97 Similar and Opposite Words

holdbacks

noun

plural of holdback

as in delays

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in obstacles

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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of holdbacks In reality, holdbacks are about risk allocation, indemnity or unresolved diligence items. — Mike McIsaac Cpa, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2026 And maybe this is an opportunity to voice something, and that is that independent films from the United States are more and more often being subjected to strategies which used to be dedicated to bigger, more commercial films, in terms of holdbacks. — Jessica Kiang, Variety, 21 June 2026 Universities will continue to deal with the 3% holdbacks — plus another 2% drop — for next fiscal year, according to the statement of purpose for the appropriations bill that senators passed Thursday. — Becca Savransky, Idaho Statesman, 20 Mar. 2026 Add curtain holdbacks with playful animal details, or top your door hinges with decorative hinge caps for a knowing wink of whimsy. — Cori Sears, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Mar. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for holdbacks

Noun

While supply constraints are contributing to the delays, strong demand suggests the device could become another growth engine.

— Alexa LoMonaco, CNBC, 24 Oct. 2026
Together, these efforts can help smooth the often difficult path from the first unexplained symptoms to an accurate diagnosis, while reducing the risk of both misdiagnosis and unnecessary delays.

— Bruce Bebo, STAT, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of delays

Noun

Icy weather, snowstorms, obstructive foliage and rugged terrain along the wild Rockies were just some of the obstacles Ben Nickell and Anne Koski faced on a 10-year journey to climb the highest point in each of Idaho’s 44 counties.

— Harllie Stevenson, Idaho Statesman, 20 Oct. 2026
Long before launch, the team faced obstacles that nearly thwarted the endeavor — chiefly, two rejections from NASA — before finally securing the green light for the $1 billion project under the New Frontiers Program in 2011.

— Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of obstacles

Noun

Some voters faced waits of up to two hours, and the county’s online wait-time map didn’t always match what people saw at the polls.

— Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Oct. 2026
For instance, applicants from countries such as China and India (registration required) may face lengthier waits due to backlog risks and high demand.

— Jill Jones, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of waits

Noun

Both promise to boost supply chain resilience — be that against climate change or geopolitical unrest — but face significant barriers to scale.

— Bella Webb, Vogue, 20 Oct. 2026
The harder tasks are to integrate capital markets, reduce regulatory differences between member states, and dismantle barriers to cross-border investment and commerce.

— Claas Mertens, Foreign Affairs, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of barriers

Noun

Sitting around a table in the soundstage where the pilot for I Love Lucy was filmed, the six of them tailored the roles to the actors and infused the script with arguments, embarrassments, and confessions from their own relationships.

— Eliana Dockterman, Time, 26 June 2026
The order to whitewash America’s historic sites of anything less than rosy about the nation’s past has led to some predictable embarrassments.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 3 June 2026

Definition of embarrassments

Browse Nearby Words

hold back

holdbacks

hold down

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“Holdbacks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/holdbacks. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of holdbacks

noun

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