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held back





held-back




ADJECTIVE
smothered
Synonyms


ADJECTIVE
withheld
Synonyms


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.

See Examples For:

Sabalenka held back tears during her post-match interview where she praised Rybakina's performance.

From BBC Sep. 13, 2026

“Immigration policy changes likely held back payrolls growth in August,” said Bill Adams, chief economist at Fifth Third Commercial Bank.

From MarketWatch Sep. 3, 2026

The same accusation was leveled at Anthropic when it held back the public release of its powerful Mythos model over cybersecurity concerns.

From Barron's Jul. 29, 2026

These results may have practical importance because functional health reflects whether people can continue performing routine activities without being held back by fatigue or other symptoms.

From Science Daily Jul. 29, 2026

One of the does had held back from the bilgewater, and the upstream girder under the bridge had caught her across the back.

From "Watership Down: A Novel" by Richard Adams

Although the held-back funds make up less than 1% of California’s education budget, they have an outsize cumulative effect.

From Los Angeles Times Jul. 14, 2025

The held-back funds are tied to programs that, in some cases, have received these dollars for decades.

From Los Angeles Times Jul. 14, 2025

In one moment, a student may sing a solo that lights up the room like a supernova only for them to later sing it through a clenched throat and held-back tears.

From Seattle Times Sep. 20, 2022

Each jurisdiction must appoint two full-time commissioners and submit applications laying out the commission’s safety and investigative credentials and establishing its independence from Metro before the held-back money can be released, FTA officials say.

From Washington Post Jul. 23, 2017

I no longer feel the sinking in my gut, the held-back tearfulness that such a false accusation would once have produced.

From "Cat's Eye" by Margaret Atwood




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