1
as in denying
to be unwilling to grant
must withhold official approval until all the proper forms have been submitted
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in keeping
to continue to have in one's possession or power
withhold some money for your own expenses
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of withholding
James said the administration has not provided evidence of fraud or misuse of child care funding in New York, while ignoring the standard processes for withholding such funds.
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Cayla Bamberger, New York Daily News, 9 Jan. 2026
In November 2025, a federal judge temporarily barred the government from withholding funding from the University of California.
—Noe Padilla, USA Today, 8 Jan. 2026
Judge Sid Harle on Wednesday denied the defense request for a mistrial after defense attorneys accused prosecutors of withholding key information that was revealed during testimony on Tuesday.
—Peter Charalambous, ABC News, 7 Jan. 2026
Authorities were withholding the name of the person killed pending confirmation of their identity and notification of their next of kin.
—Jason Green, Mercury News, 7 Jan. 2026
The administration is also withholding funds meant for California, Colorado, Minnesota and New York.
—Lisa Schencker, Chicago Tribune, 7 Jan. 2026
Police said the victim was a man from Berkeley but are withholding his name pending notification of next of kin.
—Tim Fang, CBS News, 2 Jan. 2026
Murphy also said Republican lawmakers with the House fraud committee are withholding whistler blower tips from investigators.
—Mary Murphy, Twin Cities, 31 Dec. 2025
At the end of July, the SSA began withholding 50% of monthly benefits from individuals with outstanding overpayments.
—Alexis Simmerman, Austin American Statesman, 31 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for withholding
Verb
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Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell released a video statement on Sunday night denying criminal wrongdoing shortly after the Department of Justice opened an investigation into him.—
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The vaccine misinformation advanced by the president and his science-denying Secretary of Health and Human Services is taking its toll on vaccination rates.—
Verb
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Saldaña has reason to feel good about keeping her box office crown, too.—
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If Payton’s keeping receipts, Superman is about to enter a no-fly zone.—
Verb
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By March, school districts across California are supposed to implement new guidance from the attorney general, including by clearly marking non-public areas and codifying a system for refusing access to immigration officers.—
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On the play before his score, Allen gained 10 yards on a sneak, refusing to go down while being pushed and pulled to the goal line.—
Verb
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Beyond raw power, the technology proved its resilience, retaining over 95 per cent of its performance after 1,100 hours of continuous use.—
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With his departure, retaining Baugh became necessary for what Sumrall is trying to establish.—
Verb
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But a jury apparently disagreed, convicting Amiri of a civil rights violation that relied heavily on Manly-Williams’ testimony and rejecting all other charges, including conspiracy to violate civil rights.—
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Talarico represents the Democrats who believe that winning is possible by rejecting rather than emulating the president’s least flattering qualities.—
Verb
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To give yourself more storage for holding all of your vacation must-haves, simply snap both bags together to create a dual compartment design.—
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Peaceful protest, chanting, and holding signs are protected forms of speech.—
Verb
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According to the company, the declining profits stemmed from low drug reimbursement rates and slow retail sales.—
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After all, there are signs that the economy is improving (unemployment and inflation are declining), but after the economic struggles of recent years, and with household debt still high, an additional financing source won't hurt, either.—
Verb
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Beyond preserving texture, flash freezing adds a level of convenience that can't be overstated.—
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This capability allows users to capture ultra-high-resolution video while preserving fine detail.—
Cite this Entry
“Withholding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/withholding. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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