1
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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for holdbacks
Noun
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On Friday evening, airports in Phoenix, Houston and San Diego were reporting delays because of staffing issues, and the Federal Aviation Administration warned that staffing problems were also possible at airports in the New York area, Dallas and Philadelphia.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
25 Oct. 2025 -
Advertisement While the commercial supply of goods has improved since the cease-fire deal, the flow of humanitarian aid continues to be marred by bureaucracy, delays, and blockages.—
Anna Halford,
Time,
25 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The television industry can be a competitive environment for emerging writers with no shortage of obstacles.—
Katie Campione,
Deadline,
28 Oct. 2025
-
The obstacles to higher uptake are multifold and stubborn.—
Elliot Haspel,
The Atlantic,
28 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
First, summertime is by far the busiest season, and because everything is cooked fresh to order, waits can sometimes be long.—
Abby Price,
Southern Living,
22 Oct. 2025
-
Staffing challenges and court orders have contributed to long waits for borrowers trying to access a new plan.—
Annie Nova,
CNBC,
21 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The journey to the pad involved challenges and hurdles in terms of engineering, financing, regulations and licensing — including 24 different permits from Queensland, along with environmental and airspace approvals — as well as finding a location for a launch pad.—
Andrew Jones,
Space.com,
24 Oct. 2025
-
Not that Lana needed any more hurdles to overcome.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
If possible, position yourself in a flat, open area with minimal tree cover, rocks, cliffs, or other obstructions that may block the sound of the whistle.—
Owen Clarke,
Outside,
1 Oct. 2025
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In 2025, Roborock launched a vacuum cleaner with a robotic arm for moving socks and other obstructions out of the way.—
Evelyn Cheng,
CNBC,
21 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
The result is more and more tariffs, higher and higher trade barriers, and less and less competition.—
Bill Barrow,
Fortune,
25 Oct. 2025
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Trump signed the pardon Wednesday, which forgave Zhao’s conviction and could ease barriers to any future role at the company, though legal and compliance restrictions remain.—
Miranda Jeyaretnam,
Time,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
For many, the glamour of it all seemed to be gone, replaced with a glossy series of embarrassments.—
Lyz Lenz,
Rolling Stone,
16 Aug. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Holdbacks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/holdbacks. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
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