as in delays
an instance or period of being prevented from going about one's business
a holdup in construction due to the weather
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Recent Examples of holdups
However, economic uncertainty has slowed the process for some companies, and regulatory holdups have played a bigger role than anticipated.
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Lillian Rizzo, CNBC, 5 Dec. 2025
The holdups prompted multiple Senate hearings that forced the USPS to temporarily pause some of the network efforts last year.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 18 Nov. 2025
Speaking on the Senate floor, Thune called on colleagues from both parties to avoid procedural holdups and allow the House to act quickly.
—Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Nov. 2025
Over time, detectives have focused on a robbery crew linked to a string of fast-food holdups that summer.
—Christina Coulter, PEOPLE, 8 Nov. 2025
The slain suspect, Lahione Soto, is suspected in a string of nearby holdups in the minutes leading up to the shooting, police sources said.
—Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 18 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for holdups
Noun
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Bayt Almocha had also been expected to open last summer, but delays pushed that plan back to March.—
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The Covid pandemic snarled airplane assembly at both Boeing and its chief rival, Airbus, with supply chain delays and loss of experienced workers, even after the worst of the health crisis subsided.—
Noun
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In the heart of Round Rock, the Unicorniverse can get quite busy on weekends, with waits of up to 40 minutes for food, so try to go on a weekday.—
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That said, reasonable preparation can help even those familiar with international payment systems avoid high fees, long waits and general confusion.—
Cite this Entry
“Holdups.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/holdups. Accessed 20 Jan. 2026.
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