Thesaurus.com
Dictionary.com
Definitions

keep back

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 down hold in 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 down hold in 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
contain
Synonyms
STRONGEST
collect cool curb stop
STRONG
check compose cork harness hog-tie rein repress restrain restrict smother stifle
WEAK
bottle up hold in keep lid on put half nelson on simmer down
Antonyms
STRONGEST
continue encourage
STRONG
allow free help let go liberate permit release
WEAK
exclude
VERB
delay
Synonyms
STRONGEST
adjourn bar block defer detain hamper hold impede keep obstruct postpone prevent prolong put off restrict shelve stall stay suspend withhold
STRONG
arrest check choke clog confine curb dawdle deter dilly-dally discourage drag encumber filibuster inhibit interfere intermit lag linger loiter procrastinate prorogue protract remand repress retard slacken table tarry temporize
WEAK
bide time gain time hold over lay over stave off
Antonyms
STRONGEST
abandon advance aid allow assist carry out continue do encourage expedite forward free further go help let go open permit promote release support
STRONG
complete finish hurry leave liberate push rush unblock
WEAK
dispatch hasten speed
VERB
deny
Synonyms
STRONGEST
ban call on contradict oppose rebuff refuse refute reject revoke turn down withhold
STRONG
abjure abnegate begrudge contravene controvert curb disallow disavow disbelieve discard disclaim discredit disown disprove doubt eschew exclude forbid forgo forsake gainsay negate negative nullify rebut recant repudiate restrain sacrifice spurn taboo veto
WEAK
disacknowledge enjoin from hold back not buy say no to take exception to turn thumbs down
Antonyms
STRONGEST
OK accept allow approve ratify sanction support
STRONG
acknowledge admit agree aid assist believe claim concur credit embrace help keep permit trust validate welcome
WEAK
accede affirm concede confess corroborate go along grant
VERB
disallow
Synonyms
STRONGEST
forbid rebuff
STRONG
abjure cancel censor debar deny disavow disclaim dismiss disown embargo exclude kill nix proscribe refuse repudiate taboo veto withhold
WEAK
disacknowledge pass on put down shut out zing
Antonyms
STRONG
OK accept acknowledge admit agree allow approve claim grant include permit sanction welcome
VERB
discourage
Synonyms
STRONGEST
curb frighten hinder impede inhibit prevent scare
STRONG
check chill control deprecate discountenance disfavor disincline divert indispose interfere obstruct quiet repress shake warn withhold
WEAK
disadvise hold back hold off put off talk out of throw cold water on turn aside turn off
Antonyms
STRONGEST
advance aid allow assist calm comfort encourage facilitate forward help
STRONG
approve let go permit support
WEAK
hearten inspire inspirit spur on
VERB
earmark
Synonyms
STRONGEST
allocate designate set aside
STRONG
label maintain name slot tab tag
WEAK
mark out
Antonyms
STRONG
ignore neglect
WEAK
throw away use waste
VERB
hold back
Synonyms
WEAK
bit bridle check control curb defer delay deny forbear hold down hold in hold off inhibit keep 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 down hold in inhibit keep keep out postpone prevent put off refrain refuse restrain stop suppress withhold
Antonyms
WEAK
let go reveal
VERB
reserve
Synonyms
STRONGEST
defer hoard maintain preserve retain save set aside stockpile withhold
STRONG
conserve delay duck have hold plant possess postpone squirrel stash store
WEAK
keep out lay up put away put by put off squirrel away store up stow away
Antonyms
STRONGEST
hurt let go release spend squander throw away waste
STRONG
expedite use
WEAK
distribute give offer
VERB
smother
Synonyms
STRONGEST
choke douse envelop overwhelm quash quell snuff squelch stifle strangle suffocate suppress surround
STRONG
asphyxiate collect compose conceal control cool cork heap inundate kill muffle quench rein repress restrain shower shroud throttle
WEAK
hush up simmer down stamp out
Antonyms
STRONGEST
allow encourage free help let go loose release
STRONG
disperse scatter start tell
WEAK
light uncover

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.

While the bison do help keep back some of the invasive grasses, Dennhardt explains that they create wallows and cause erosion.

From National Geographic • Jan. 18, 2024

Oxfam said it understood workers' frustrations, but that its reserves had fallen, and it needed to keep back funds to weather financial shocks.

From BBC • Dec. 7, 2023

As harsh as it sounds, there are certain places where it will not make sense to spend lots of money trying to keep back the tides.

From Washington Post • Sep. 18, 2022

But he has come to question the islands’ ability to keep back the highest tides in coming decades.

From New York Times • Aug. 12, 2021

Police officers strung ropes to keep back the crowd who came to the area to see Garfield off.

From "Ambushed!" by Gail Jarrow