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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

As they investigated the incident, police say they tried to keep back bystanders who “started to gather to watch, make video recordings and yell at police.”

From Seattle Times • Aug. 6, 2020

She couldn’t figure out what she wanted to draw, only that she needed to draw to keep back all the thoughts.

From "Ivy Aberdeen’s Letter to the World" by Ashley Herring Blake

keep back

Example Sentences

Related Words