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

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.

"Because her heart was working so hard and was enlarged she couldn't hold down much," explained Emily, adding she had to be tube-fed high-calorie formula.

From BBC • May 23, 2026

But can the company hold down utility bills?

From MarketWatch • May 18, 2026

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

Warsh has suggested that AI-driven productivity gains will hold down prices for goods and services and give the Fed room to ease.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 21, 2026

At my question about them, Dad said they were “dusting”: spreading rock dust around to hold down the explosive mixture of coal dust and air.

From "October Sky" by Homer Hickam

hold down

Example Sentences

Related Words