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Showing results for hold at bay.
Definitions

hold at bay

VERB
defend
Synonyms
STRONGEST
contend fight fight for guard hold maintain oppose preserve prevent resist safeguard secure shield uphold
STRONG
avert battle bulwark cherish conserve cover entrench espouse fortify foster garrison hedge house insure mine nourish save screen shelter sustain war watch withstand
WEAK
beat off care for fend off guard against keep safe look after panoply provide sanctuary repel danger stave off take in ward off watch over
Antonyms
STRONGEST
abandon desert endanger give up harm hurt ignore injure let go lose neglect support surrender
STRONG
forsake make peace
WEAK
attack leave quit relinquish renounce resign
VERB
fend off
Synonyms
STRONGEST
avert avoid deflect rebuff rebut reject repel repulse resist spurn ward off
WEAK
beat off drive back keep at a distance keep at arm's length keep off parry rebuke refuse snub stave off turn aside
Antonyms
STRONGEST
approve attract want welcome
WEAK
let in
VERB
fight back/fight off
Synonyms
WEAK
beat off bottle up check contain control curb fend off hold back keep at bay oppose put up fight repel reply repress repulse resist restrain retaliate stave off ward off
Antonyms
WEAK
give in give up surrender yield
VERB
halt
Synonyms
STRONGEST
adjourn arrest bar block break off cease curb deter end hamper impede interrupt stall stem stop suspend terminate
STRONG
balk check desist frustrate intermit obstruct pause punctuate rest stay wait
WEAK
blow the whistle on bring to an end bring to standstill call it a day close down come to an end cool it cut short draw up drop anchor hold back pull up put a cork in stand still
Antonyms
STRONGEST
advance aid allow assist begin commence continue encourage further go help initiate keep on let go open permit promote start stimulate support urge
STRONG
carry out do restart
WEAK
carry on forge forward push speak smoothly
VERB
parry
Synonyms
STRONG
anticipate avoid block bypass deflect dodge duck elude evade fence forestall preclude prevent rebuff rebuke repel repulse resist shirk shun sidestep
WEAK
en garde fend off stave off
Antonyms
STRONG
allow attract confront encounter face let go meet take on
WEAK
deal with

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.

Nor could it hold at bay the tweet screenshots and TikTok reuploads that thundered its way.

From Slate • Jul. 16, 2024

But Perez is joined on the front row by Alonso's Aston Martin, which Leclerc only just managed to hold at bay in Azerbaijan.

From BBC • May 6, 2023

“We are making staggering sacrifices in human life to defend not only our country, but also to hold at bay those forces which threaten global security,” Mr. Mohib, the Afghan national security adviser, said.

From New York Times • Mar. 14, 2019

However much he refuses to perspire, even he cannot hold at bay forever the strains of time and his calling.

From The Guardian • Jun. 23, 2010

And Aias would now be mindful of his impetuous valour, and turn again, and hold at bay the battalions of the horse-taming Trojans, and once more he would turn him again to flee.

From The Iliad by Homer