HELD BACK Synonyms: 107 Similar and Opposite Words

held back

verb

past tense of hold back

as in hampered

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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in stifled

to refrain from openly showing or uttering held back her tears until she was alone

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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 held back Some are held back by the barriers that are typically associated with starting to sell in a new place, like learning new customs and speaking the language. — Roy Stephen Canivel, Footwear News, 8 Oct. 2026 Yamamoto was held back for this game while Skubal started the opener, but Yamamoto shouldn’t take a back seat to anyone anymore this postseason. — Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026 When the Braves announced that superstar starter Chris Sale would be held back for game three, the widespread expectation was that the Dodgers had a tremendous advantage for game two. — Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 6 Oct. 2026 In this respect, BIFF is also riding a positive trend as local cinema began to revive at the beginning of this year, following a long period of declining box office and audience apathy that held back post-pandemic recovery. — Liz Shackleton, Deadline, 5 Oct. 2026 He was held back by something else, a feeling that some awful truth about his familiar, beloved world was now being revealed to him. — Rachel Heng, New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2026 Baker opened the door, in leggings and a tank top, her hair held back with sunglasses. — CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2026 The Meta Ray-Ban Display's color waveguide still feels like an important evolution in the category, even if it's held back by limited features and questionable design decisions. — Will Greenwald, PC Magazine, 28 Sep. 2026 He’s held back on approving a $14 billion arms package to Taiwan. — Nicholas Gordon, Fortune, 28 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for held back

Verb

And that is part of what has hampered us from doing anything.

— Nilay Patel, The Verge, 5 Oct. 2026
As ongoing offensive line struggles and continued pass coverage breakdowns hampered efforts, Washington faced dim prospects entering Week 3’s showdown with the defending Super Bowl champion Seahawks.

— Mike Jones, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of hampered

Verb

Nationwide, Muslim and pro-Palestinian students argued that their speech had been stifled.

— Cameron Pugh, Christian Science Monitor, 7 Oct. 2026
The most promising part for the Panthers is that Bryce Young, who leads the NFL in passing yardage, was in no way stifled Sunday.

— Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of stifled

Verb

Soldiers and family members have told The Associated Press of a failure to recognize the seriousness of injuries, a poor plan to get the wounded to hospitals and red tape that has hindered follow-up care.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 6 Oct. 2026
Most of those still without power live in the Amazon, where isolation and high infrastructure costs have hindered electrification.

— ABC News, ABC News, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of hindered

Verb

Sorkin’s problem was that, in reality, at this point in Facebook’s history, the powerful CEO had pushed out all the Roger McNamees, having suppressed dissent within the company.

— Chris O'Falt, IndieWire, 10 Oct. 2026
The rest of the network enacts the decision, as other genes are activated or suppressed farther downstream, but isn’t active in it.

— Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of suppressed

Verb

The ongoing conflict that has driven people from their homes in Iran as well as an internet shutdown and a lack of full cooperation from the two governments partially impeded the team's efforts to get information.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 18 Sep. 2026
The ongoing conflict that has driven people from their homes in Iran as well as an internet shutdown and a lack of full cooperation from the two governments partially impeded the team’s efforts to get information.

— Jamey Keaten, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of impeded

Verb

Over two games in Tampa, the Rays had embarrassed the Yankees – nearly no hitting them in Game 1 and putting the ball in play and watching the errors ensue in Game 2.

— Hannah Keyser, CNN Money, 8 Oct. 2026
Philadelphia embarrassed itself in a non-competitive loss at Chicago on Monday night, unable to go drive-for-drive with journeyman quarterback Case Keenum, a 38-year-old backup’s backup.

— Andy Behrens, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of embarrassed

Verb

The construction of Terminal B also partially obstructed controllers’ views of two taxiways.

— Madison Smalstig, Sacbee.com, 30 Sep. 2026
Plaintiffs' critical role to root out governmental fraud, finance waste, and abuse is obstructed by Defendant's interference with OIG's investigatory performance.

— Adam Thompson, CBS News, 24 Sep. 2026