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 Primaries Kenny and Christina have long wanted to come to Thailand, but have been held back by Christina’s lethal nut allergy. — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 13 Oct. 2026 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for held back

Verb

The domestic economy is otherwise moribund, hampered by bad debts and a shrinking labor force.

— RUCHIR SHARMA, Foreign Affairs, 13 Oct. 2026
Special teams miscues and penalties once again hampered the Rams in a game that featured three touchdown passes by Matthew Stafford and a career-best 17 catches by Puka Nacua.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of hampered

Verb

Special teams had had a sprinkling of errors — like the game-opening 81-yard kickoff return Miami allowed — hindered that unit’s performance each week.

— Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 12 Oct. 2026
Credit experts said the rate-cap proposal would have hindered consumers' access to credit.

— Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of hindered

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

Anyone who has seen the heart-pounding trailer of Whalefall, which follows a scuba diver being swallowed whole by a giant sperm whale, would probably not see said whale as the film’s hero.

— Kirsten Chuba, HollywoodReporter, 14 Oct. 2026
The squishy toys contain water beads that expand when wet, including if swallowed.

— Eva Flowe October 6, Charlotte Observer, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of swallowed

Verb

In the 2024 playoffs, Green Bay went into Dallas and embarrassed the Cowboys in a 48-32 rout.

— Andy Scholes, CNN Money, 15 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