1
as in stands off
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2
as in puts off
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Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for holds off
Verb
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Leaving clean laundry in the dryer or hamper only puts off a chore until later, keeps clean clothes from its proper place, and also risks wrinkles or someone accidentally mistaking it for dirty laundry instead.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The Spaniard receives with his back to goal and turns away from Morato before being brought down.—
Anantaajith Raghuraman,
New York Times,
19 Oct. 2025
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And surely enough, the club’s focus soon turns away from their increasingly baffling cold case and onto a more pressing one.—
Manuel Betancourt,
Variety,
22 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The scene where ‘80s teen Marty McFly borrows a scooter from a bewildered ‘50s kid and breaks off the handles to make a skateboard is one of the film’s most iconic moments.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
21 Oct. 2025
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Second, the flowing glacier brings more ice forward to replace what breaks off, slowing the cliff’s inland retreat and making a chain reaction of cliff toppling less likely.—
Evan Howell,
Quanta Magazine,
20 Oct. 2025
Verb
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And Keenan Allen turns back the clock.—
Joe Nguyen,
Denver Post,
21 Sep. 2025
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Law plays Jake Friedken, a hotshot restaurant owner whose life is thrown into chaos when his black sheep older brother, Vince (Jason Bateman), turns back up after years on the run.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Verna insists the souls of the dead live within the alien ship, but Mitsuki resists the lure.—
JP Mangalindan,
Time,
24 Oct. 2025
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Her lens resists finality; every image feels open-ended, as if the story could turn in any direction.—
Okla Jones,
Essence,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The result was a fun cameo arc that ends on the image of Scorsese breaking down in tears after Matt shelves the iconic director’s dream project to save his own job — a turn that earned Scorsese his first acting nomination.—
Nicholas Quah,
Vulture,
16 Aug. 2025
Verb
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There’s something about a color refresh that can completely change the way your wardrobe feels—but not every shade withstands the test of time.—
Rosie Marder,
Travel + Leisure,
18 Oct. 2025
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This outdoor glider is made with water-resistant, quick-drying, UV-resistant material that withstands weather conditions all year round.—
Stephanie Osmanski,
Better Homes & Gardens,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Buffett’s buy-and-hold approach not only compounds wealth but also defers taxes, allowing more capital to keep working year after year.—
Robert Daugherty,
Forbes.com,
13 Sep. 2025
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The strategy seeds ETFs before launch, and the original investor defers capital gains until selling their shares.—
Kate Dore, CFP®, EA,
CNBC,
21 Aug. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Holds off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/holds%20off. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
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