as in delays
an instance or period of being prevented from going about one's business
a holdup in construction due to the weather
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of holdups
His gang reportedly was involved in at least 20 murders, 100 holdups and 150 burglaries.
—
Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 15 Apr. 2026
With holdups at home, investors are exploring buildouts abroad, including in the energy-rich Gulf states.
—Jared Cohen, Time, 18 Feb. 2026
According to McKay, five of the holdups involved a man armed with what appeared to be a firearm.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 12 Feb. 2026
In her opinion, the holdups, delays and claim denials point to the city of Fort Worth trying to save money on treatment costs.
—Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 Jan. 2026
The rollout of these drone delivery programs has been infrequent due to regulatory holdups regarding the safety of the technology, and the ability for drones to operate in poor weather conditions.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 13 Jan. 2026
The good news is that all of these boarding holdups can be avoided.
—Jillian Dara, Travel + Leisure, 10 Jan. 2026
However, economic uncertainty has slowed the process for some companies, and regulatory holdups have played a bigger role than anticipated.
—Lillian Rizzo, CNBC, 5 Dec. 2025
Speaking on the Senate floor, Thune called on colleagues from both parties to avoid procedural holdups and allow the House to act quickly.
—Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Nov. 2025
Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 15 Apr. 2026
With holdups at home, investors are exploring buildouts abroad, including in the energy-rich Gulf states.
—Jared Cohen, Time, 18 Feb. 2026
According to McKay, five of the holdups involved a man armed with what appeared to be a firearm.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 12 Feb. 2026
In her opinion, the holdups, delays and claim denials point to the city of Fort Worth trying to save money on treatment costs.
—Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 Jan. 2026
The rollout of these drone delivery programs has been infrequent due to regulatory holdups regarding the safety of the technology, and the ability for drones to operate in poor weather conditions.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 13 Jan. 2026
The good news is that all of these boarding holdups can be avoided.
—Jillian Dara, Travel + Leisure, 10 Jan. 2026
However, economic uncertainty has slowed the process for some companies, and regulatory holdups have played a bigger role than anticipated.
—Lillian Rizzo, CNBC, 5 Dec. 2025
Speaking on the Senate floor, Thune called on colleagues from both parties to avoid procedural holdups and allow the House to act quickly.
—Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for holdups
Noun
-
One challenge the next state controller will face is the effort to modernize the state’s payroll system, which has encountered significant delays and is one of California’s most costly IT projects.—
William Melhado,
Sacbee.com,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Drivers saw delays throughout the day Friday as streets running parallel to and crossing 19th Avenue also slowed while people looked for alternate routes.—
Kenny Choi,
CBS News,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Insurance coverage for mental illnesses further complicates the problem of consistent care because the number of visits to mental health professionals are usually limited, and there are often long waits to see providers.—
Jeffrey Freedman,
Sun Sentinel,
27 Apr. 2026
-
When families flocked to Yosemite National Park during their recent spring breaks, some met two-hour waits at the entrance gates.—
Justine McDaniel,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Holdups.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/holdups. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
