holding off

verb

present participle of hold off
1
as in turning back

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2
as in putting off

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Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for holding off
  1. turning back
  2. putting off
  3. turning away
  4. breaking off
  5. withstanding
  6. shelving
  7. resisting
  8. postponing
Verb
  • While her music has remained a fixture on country charts, the latest results show listeners are turning back to her catalog across formats and generations following her death.
    — Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Thus, Kansas City’s best cornerback lineup may include the young corners outside, with Sneed turning back the clock four seasons and manning the nickel.
    — Pete Sweeney, Kansas City Star, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of turning back
Verb
  • Hundreds of military bases have been putting off cleanup of toxic PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, for years, according to a new USA TODAY analysis of military records.
    — Austin Fast, USA Today, 26 July 2026
  • Home Depot and Lowe’s both told investors this year that homeowners are putting off larger home improvement projects – those often associated with fixer-upper homes.
    — Samantha Delouya, CNN Money, 17 July 2026
Definition of putting off
Verb
  • Almost half of traders, portfolio managers and strategists in a recent Bloomberg poll support wearing shorts to work, but men in Silicon Valley are turning away from the look of the scruffy tech genius in shorts and flip-flops.
    — Brittney Melton, NPR, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Slightly turning away from the camera, Schiffer revealed that the back of her bikini top was held together with the netting.
    — Lara Walsh, InStyle, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of turning away
Verb
  • Experts believe Wednesday's mudslides and flash flooding across Nepal and China's Tibet region were caused by a large chunk of ice breaking off a glacier and falling into the Lhende Khola River.
    — Robert McGreevy, FOXNews.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • The AccuWeather team will be looking for smaller storm cells breaking off of the main line, which would give them freedom to begin rotating and potentially spin off a tornado funnel.
    — Karl Hille, Baltimore Sun, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of breaking off
Verb
  • The dismissals varied but building a middle order capable of withstanding a spin barrage in helpful conditions is fundamental to England’s ambitions overseas.
    — Ben Jones, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Consider that a durable laptop capable of withstanding an accidental drop might be worth extra money.
    — BestReviews, Mercury News, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of withstanding
Verb
  • That iteration eventually led to Ron Funches taking over for Morgan, but then financing fell through, shelving the project indefinitely as of 2018.
    — Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Harrington broke the two metatarsal bones in his right foot in the seventh game last year, shelving him for 2 1/2 months.
    — Paul Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of shelving
Verb
  • Stanley is accused of blocking Rajabi’s car with his body, punching Rajabi’s window and resisting arrest.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 2 Sep. 2026
  • While half of Gen-Z use AI weekly, 48% of young working people now believe the risks of AI outweigh the benefits, and 44% of Gen-Z workers (subscription required) surveyed in one report admit to actively resisting their companies' AI efforts.
    — Michael Chavira, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of resisting
Verb
  • Fallout has rippled across the sport, with the Golf Channel postponing a Good Good reality series and major retailers pulling the brand’s merchandise.
    — Chuck Schilken, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Parton had openly discussed health struggles in the months leading up to her death, including postponing and missing appearances while receiving treatment.
    — Sameen Chaudhry, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of postponing
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.

Browse Nearby Words

holding (in)
holding off
holding off (on)
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Cite this Entry

“Holding off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/holding%20off. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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