Thesaurus.com
Dictionary.com
Definitions

hold down

VERB
bottle up
Synonyms
STRONGEST
repress suppress
WEAK
box up bring to naught check collar contain coop up cork corner cover up cramp curb enclose entrap hold back hold in keep back keep feeling inside oneself keep secret restrain restrict shut in trap
Antonyms
STRONGEST
let go
WEAK
confide reveal tell
VERB
check
Synonyms
STRONGEST
arrest control curb halt prevent reduce stop
STRONG
baffle bar bit bottleneck bridle checkmate choke circumvent constrain counteract delay discourage foil frustrate harness hold impede inhibit interrupt limit moderate neutralize obstruct obviate pause preclude rebuff repress repulse retard snub squelch stay suppress tame terminate thwart withhold
WEAK
cut short hold back hold in keep back nip in the bud play for time rein in slacken pace slow down
Antonyms
STRONGEST
aid allow assist continue encourage help let go
STRONG
abet advance approve facilitate forward free permit release
WEAK
expedite indulge liberate
VERB
constrain
Synonyms
STRONGEST
bind constrict curb inhibit necessitate stifle
STRONG
ban bar bridle chain check coerce compel concuss confine cork deny deprive disallow drive hog-tie immure impel imprison incarcerate intern jail make oblige pressure pressurize urge withhold
WEAK
bottle up cool off hem in hold back hold in keep lid on put half nelson on shotgun
Antonyms
STRONGEST
aid allow assist encourage free help loosen release
STRONG
delay discourage dissuade halt indulge leave alone let go liberate permit repress stop
VERB
curb
Synonyms
STRONGEST
constrain contain control hamper hinder impede inhibit restrain suppress tame
STRONG
abstain bit bridle check deny fetter hobble hog-tie ice leash manacle moderate muzzle refrain retard scrub shackle subdue tie withhold
WEAK
bottle up box in bring to screeching halt cool down cool off entrammel hold back hold in keep lid on keep tight rein on rein in send up tie up
Antonyms
STRONGEST
advance aid allow assist encourage facilitate forward free help let go permit promote release
STRONG
go ahead incite indulge liberate loose loosen
WEAK
foster
VERB
grind
Synonyms
STRONG
afflict annoy harass hound persecute plague trouble tyrannize vex
Antonyms
STRONG
aid assist comfort help please soothe
WEAK
free liberate
VERB
hold back
Synonyms
WEAK
bit bridle check control curb defer delay deny forbear hold in hold off inhibit keep keep back keep out postpone prevent put off refrain refuse restrain stop suppress withhold
VERB
hold back/hold off
Synonyms
WEAK
bit bridle check control curb defer delay deny forbear hold in inhibit keep keep back keep out postpone prevent put off refrain refuse restrain stop suppress withhold
Antonyms
WEAK
let go reveal
VERB
inhibit
Synonyms
STRONGEST
constrain curb discourage forbid hinder impede obstruct outlaw prohibit restrain stymie suppress
STRONG
arrest avert bar bit bridle check cramp enjoin faze frustrate hog-tie interdict repress sandbag stop taboo ward withhold
WEAK
hang up hold back hold in keep in put on brakes
Antonyms
STRONGEST
advance aid allow assist encourage facilitate forward free help let go permit promote push release support
WEAK
approve
VERB
manage
Synonyms
STRONGEST
administer conduct dominate govern guide handle maintain operate oversee regulate run supervise take care of take over train use
STRONG
advocate boss captain command concert counsel designate direct disburse engineer execute head influence instruct manipulate minister officiate pilot ply preside request rule steer superintend watch wield
WEAK
call the shots call upon care for carry on engage in run the show take the helm watch over
Antonyms
STRONGEST
follow forget leave mismanage neglect obey serve surrender yield
STRONG
hurt ignore oppose
WEAK
bumble fail
VERB
pin
Synonyms
STRONGEST
affix bind clasp fasten fix
STRONG
close immobilize join pinion press restrain secure
WEAK
hold fast
Antonyms
STRONGEST
detach let go loose loosen release unfasten
STRONG
disjoin
WEAK
unlatch unpin
VERB
restrict
Synonyms
STRONGEST
curb decrease define diminish hamper impede inhibit limit narrow reduce regulate restrain shorten
STRONG
bind bound chain check circumscribe constrict contain contract cramp delimit delimitate demarcate encircle enclose inclose moderate modify qualify shrink surround temper tether tie
WEAK
bottle up come down on cool down demark hang up hem in hold back keep within bounds keep within limits pin down prelimit put away put on ice send up shut in
Antonyms
STRONGEST
aid allow assist develop encourage enlarge expand extend free grow help increase lengthen raise
STRONG
let go liberate loose loosen open permit release stretch unbind unfasten unloose untie
VERB
suppress
Synonyms
STRONGEST
abolish censor conceal contain cover up crack down on crush curb cut off muzzle overcome overthrow put an end to put down quash quell quench repress silence snuff out stamp out stifle subdue withhold
STRONG
annihilate bottle burke check clamp conquer extinguish interrupt muffle overpower shush smother spike squash stop trample
WEAK
beat down bring to naught hold back hold in keep in keep secret put kibosh on put lid on sit on
Antonyms
STRONGEST
aid allow assist build up compliment encourage give in help let go permit praise release sanction start support surrender yield
STRONG
light open
VERB
weigh down
Synonyms
STRONGEST
overburden overload sadden
WEAK
bear down burden cumber get down oppress press press down prey on pull down task trouble weigh upon weight worry
Antonyms
WEAK
cheer delight please
VERB
withhold
Synonyms
STRONGEST
conceal deduct deny detain hide keep refuse resist retain suppress
STRONG
abstain bridle check constrain curb disallow hold inhibit kill refrain repress reserve restrain spike
WEAK
clam up dummy up hold back hold out hold out on keep secret keep to oneself keep under one's hat keep under wraps sit on stop oneself
Antonyms
STRONGEST
allow disclose divulge expose free go along grant lay bare let go let out open release reveal show tell uncover
STRONG
aid assist help indulge liberate permit use

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.

And we spoke with a middle-aged woman with schizophrenia and panic disorder who lives with her brother’s family because she can’t hold down a job and fears being left alone in a nursing home.

From Salon • Apr. 29, 2026

Dunbar’s drums hold down such genre-defining classics as Junior Murvin’s “Police and Thieves” and The Mighty Diamonds’ 1976 “Right Time,” as well as the 12-inch version of Bob Marley’s “Punky Reggae Party.”

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 26, 2026

When you are rushing around, trying to do everything for your children and hold down a demanding job, how are there enough hours in the day?

From BBC • Dec. 20, 2025

Plus, the Federal Reserve plans to buy hundreds of billions of short-term Treasury bonds annually, another move that would pump money into the financial system and hold down rates.

From Barron's • Dec. 18, 2025

After a few minutes, it almost feels like last year at our old lunch table, only with no one telling us to hold down our voices or clear our trays.

From "Merci Suárez Changes Gears" by Meg Medina