holds off

verb

present tense third-person singular of hold off
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
  1. turns away
  2. puts off
  3. turns back
  4. breaks off
  5. resists
  6. shelves
  7. withstands
  8. defers
Verb
  • The insect naturally turns away when an antenna touches an obstacle.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 18 July 2026
  • The bear, seemingly frightened, quickly turns away from the boy and continues running, sliding under a boat parked in the driveway.
    — Mason Leib, ABC News, 7 July 2026
Definition of turns away
Verb
  • The family’s story is mostly told from the perspective of Barb, the youngest sibling, who pushes for answers but puts off obtaining her own genetic test results.
    — The Week US, TheWeek, 13 Oct. 2026
  • When a leader puts off a decision, the people around them feel the pause first.
    — Mohamed AL Hashemi, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026
Definition of puts off
Verb
  • Those talks have since stalled as Tehran focuses on negotiating the future of the Strait of Hormuz and Washington turns back to diplomacy.
    — Leila Gharagozlou, CNN Money, 20 Sep. 2026
  • The opening holes may not immediately reveal what awaits, but that changes quickly as the course turns back on itself and descends into a stunning, secluded valley that eventually opens toward the coastline.
    — Jeff Goudy, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of turns back
Verb
  • This is the most significant ice calving event (where ice breaks off of a glacier) seen in the Arctic since 2020.
    — Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 24 Aug. 2026
  • According to the reports, the malfunctions occurred during the ride's signature ‘tilt' portion, where the segment of track containing the ride vehicle breaks off completely and tilts forward 45 degrees before reconnecting to another piece of track at a 90-degree angle to the ground below.
    — Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 10 June 2026
Definition of breaks off
Verb
  • An unskilled crew can raise a structural shell in weeks instead of months, and the finished building resists fire, mold, and Category 5 hurricane winds.
    — Joe Mullich, Time, 15 Oct. 2026
  • The researchers also focused on reducing the robot’s effective inertia, a property that describes how strongly an object resists changes in its motion.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of resists
Verb
  • Clean the wood cabinet doors monthly and the interior shelves every three to six months.
    — Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 4 Mar. 2026
  • 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
Definition of shelves
Verb
  • This pair is a smart choice for walk-to-run beginners who are looking for a budget-friendly shoe that withstands serious mileage.
    — Averi Baudler, PEOPLE, 3 Sep. 2026
  • If the map withstands a court challenge, Cleaver will have to win over voters in both Democratic Kansas City and the solidly Trump parts of Missouri.
    — Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of withstands
Verb
  • But the order only defers the tax obligation, creating confusion about whether truckers may have to pay up at some point.
    — Spencer Kimball, CNBC, 9 Oct. 2026
  • But holding back defers crucial conversations about goals, methods, and the limits of American aid.
    — Dafna H. Rand, Foreign Affairs, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of defers
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

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

“Holds off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/holds%20off. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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