held back

VERB

repress

Synonyms

WEAK

bit bridle check control curb defer delay deny forbear hold down hold in inhibit keep keep back keep out postpone prevent put off refrain refuse restrain stop suppress withhold

Antonyms

WEAK

let go reveal

VERB

repress

Synonyms

WEAK

bit bridle check control curb defer delay deny forbear hold down hold in hold off inhibit keep keep back keep out postpone prevent put off refrain refuse restrain stop suppress withhold

held-back

ADJECTIVE

pent-up

Synonyms

STRONGEST

repressed stifled suppressed

WEAK

bottled-up bridled checked constrained curbed held in check inhibited restrained restricted smothered

Antonyms

WEAK

public released

ADJECTIVE

restricted

Synonyms

STRONGEST

barred blocked closed confined controlled defined deprived prescribed reduced restrained secured shortened tethered

STRONG

bound bounded bridled chained checked clogged cramped curbed decreased deterred diminished encircled fastened fettered foiled frustrated governed hampered hitched impeded inhibited manacled moderated modified narrowed obstructed prevented repressed stayed stopped suppressed surrounded tempered

WEAK

reined in small

Antonyms

STRONG

free unbounded

ADJECTIVE

retained

Synonyms

STRONGEST

maintained received saved

STRONG

confined contained detained had held included owned possessed remembered reserved restrained secured sustained treasured withheld

Antonyms

STRONG

extroverted lost outgoing

WEAK

disengaged let go refused unemployed wasted

ADJECTIVE

silenced

Synonyms

STRONG

calmed censored gagged muted repressed restrained restricted stilled subdued suppressed

WEAK

held down

ADJECTIVE

smothered

Synonyms

STRONGEST

checked constrained stifled

STRONG

bridled curbed repressed

ADJECTIVE

withheld

Synonyms

STRONG

hidden restrained

WEAK

confidential secret

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

About 530 third-graders were held back in 2025, down from about 650 in 2024 and nearly 900 in 2023.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 1, 2026

And when that happens, the stocks being held back by rate anxiety today could lead the next leg higher.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 29, 2026

Portugal have some incredible players but, as great as Ronaldo once was, they are being held back by having him permanently on the pitch as their centre-forward.

From BBC • Jun. 28, 2026

Notably, most of their names are being held back.

From Salon • Jun. 24, 2026

Forty leagues and more it was, as a bird flies, from Edoras to the fords of the Isen, where they hoped to find the king’s men that held back the hosts of Saruman.

From "The Two Towers" by J. R. R. Tolkien

held back

Example Sentences

Related Words