Synonyms for hold back

This thesaurus page is about all possible synonyms and similiar words for the term hold back

Princeton's WordNet

  1. check, turn back, arrest, stop, contain, hold back(verb)


    ensure, hold on, hold in, bar, collar, jibe, incorporate, tick off, control, carry, fit, gibe, run off, hold, moderate, cop, learn, checker, barricade, check out, mark off, retain, stop, pick up, condition, double back, assure, finish, tally, comprise, reverse, return, suss out, kibosh, check off, check over, stop over, match, check up on, cease, look into, ascertain, mark, insure, regress, forbear, go over, check, train, arrest, hold back, lay off, retrovert, quit, chase away, hold off, take, conceal, halt, block, catch, find out, see, discipline, terminate, wait, drive off, get, give up, nail, backtrack, intercept, revert, correspond, curb, restrain, keep, drive away, keep back, check into, blockade, contain, invert, bear, determine, nab, dispel, retard, crack, turn back, watch, block off, break off, see to it, break, discontinue, end, block up, tick, chequer, drive out, apprehend, agree, delay

  2. restrain, keep, keep back, hold back(verb)

    keep under control; keep in check

    intimidate, retain, hold off, throttle, hold back, restrict, hold on, continue, withhold, save, stay fresh, trammel, go along, wait, hold in, stop, encumber, turn back, celebrate, hold open, keep, proceed, cumber, observe, forbear, go on, constrain, hold, conceal, confine, preserve, prevent, arrest, restrain, bound, keep open, keep on, maintain, limit, contain, keep back, sustain, check

  3. forbear, hold back(verb)

    refrain from doing

    hold in, keep, restrain, hold back, hold off, hold, check, conceal, retain, contain, keep back, forbear, wait, stop, arrest, refrain, turn back

  4. wait, hold off, hold back(verb)

    wait before acting

    await, waitress, hold in, keep, restrain, hold back, hold off, hold, look, check, conceal, retain, contain, keep back, forbear, wait, stop, expect, arrest, turn back

  5. retain, hold, keep back, hold back(verb)

    secure and keep for possible future use or application

    accommodate, wait, book, retain, withhold, moderate, view as, support, apply, hold back, harbour, defend, take hold, bind, deem, hold up, continue, hold off, take, have, concord, check, make, admit, go for, take for, throw, defy, control, turn back, harbor, keep, obligate, carry, give, adjudge, entertain, forbear, nurse, oblige, curb, hold, conceal, confine, have got, arrest, restrain, withstand, agree, hold in, halt, contain, keep on, concur, maintain, guard, keep back, sustain, prevail, reserve, obtain, declare, stop, bear

  6. conceal, hold back, hold in(verb)

    hold back; keep from being perceived by others

    arrest, keep, restrain, hold back, confine, hold off, moderate, hold in, hold, check, conceal, retain, contain, keep back, forbear, enclose, wait, stop, hide, curb, control, turn back

English Synonyms and Antonyms

  1. hold back

    To restrain is to hold back from acting, proceeding, or advancing, either by physical or moral force. Constrain is positive; restrain is negative; one is constrained to an action; he is restrained from an action. Constrain refers almost exclusively to moral force, restrain frequently to physical force, as when we speak of putting one under restraint. To restrain an action is to hold it partially or wholly in check, so that it is under pressure even while it acts; to restrict an action is to fix a limit or boundary which it may not pass, but within which it is free. To repress, literally to press back, is to hold in check, and perhaps only temporarily, that which is still very active; it is a feebler word than restrain; to suppress is finally and effectually to put down; suppress is a much stronger word than restrain; as, to suppress a rebellion. Compare ARREST; BIND; KEEP.

    abridge, bridle, check, circumscribe, confine, constrain, curb, hinder, hold, hold in, keep, keep back, keep down, keep in, keep under, repress, restrain, restrict, suppress, withhold

    aid, animate, arouse, emancipate, encourage, excite, free, impel, incite, let loose, release, set free


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"hold back." STANDS4 LLC, 2015. Web. 6 Oct. 2015. < back>.

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