1
as in denies
to be unwilling to grant
must withhold official approval until all the proper forms have been submitted
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in retains
to continue to have in one's possession or power
withhold some money for your own expenses
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of withholds
Revathy was Chhabra’s suggestion for a judge whose neutrality the film needed to sustain across a narrative that withholds easy verdicts.
—
Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 17 Apr. 2026
The state withholds a portion of Harvey’s revenue because of the city’s past failure to adequately fund its police and fire pension funds.
—Evy Lewis, Chicago Tribune, 17 Apr. 2026
In some cases, benefit offsets (where the VA withholds part of your monthly benefit to repay a debt) can be adjusted to reduce the financial strain.
—Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 3 Mar. 2026
The episode withholds the information that the incoming stew is Ellie, notoriously explosive, competitive, and a poor receiver of feedback, until the very end.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 17 Feb. 2026
Silence reclaimed Once silenced by the Islamic Republic, Googoosh now voluntarily withholds her voice in solidarity.
—Richard Nedjat-Haiem, The Conversation, 15 Jan. 2026
Either chamber of Congress can hold someone in contempt on criminal or civil charges with a simple majority vote if that person refuses to testify, withholds information, or obstructs a congressional inquiry, according to the American Bar Association.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 21 Dec. 2025
The lawsuit claims Uber misclassifies drivers as independent contractors to avoid accountability and withholds rider risk data.
—Stuart Dyos, Nashville Tennessean, 22 Sep. 2025
The last time Berkshire requested confidentiality treatment—which withholds information from the public and allows institutional investors to build positions without tipping off the market and triggering copycat trades—was in late 2023.
—Hugh Cameron, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Aug. 2025
Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 17 Apr. 2026
The state withholds a portion of Harvey’s revenue because of the city’s past failure to adequately fund its police and fire pension funds.
—Evy Lewis, Chicago Tribune, 17 Apr. 2026
In some cases, benefit offsets (where the VA withholds part of your monthly benefit to repay a debt) can be adjusted to reduce the financial strain.
—Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 3 Mar. 2026
The episode withholds the information that the incoming stew is Ellie, notoriously explosive, competitive, and a poor receiver of feedback, until the very end.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 17 Feb. 2026
Silence reclaimed Once silenced by the Islamic Republic, Googoosh now voluntarily withholds her voice in solidarity.
—Richard Nedjat-Haiem, The Conversation, 15 Jan. 2026
Either chamber of Congress can hold someone in contempt on criminal or civil charges with a simple majority vote if that person refuses to testify, withholds information, or obstructs a congressional inquiry, according to the American Bar Association.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 21 Dec. 2025
The lawsuit claims Uber misclassifies drivers as independent contractors to avoid accountability and withholds rider risk data.
—Stuart Dyos, Nashville Tennessean, 22 Sep. 2025
The last time Berkshire requested confidentiality treatment—which withholds information from the public and allows institutional investors to build positions without tipping off the market and triggering copycat trades—was in late 2023.
—Hugh Cameron, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for withholds
Verb
-
OpenAI denies that support emails tell users how to re-register with a new email address after accounts are deactivated.—
Robert Pearlman,
ArsTechnica,
29 Apr. 2026
-
The Pentagon denies any food issues on ships.—
Cybele Mayes-Osterman,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
While the United States retains extraordinary capabilities, the number of those weapons available and the ability to replace them are more limited.—
James LaPorta,
CBS News,
24 Apr. 2026
-
According to Israeli security officials, intelligence assessments suggest Iran still retains a ballistic missile arsenal in the thousands.—
Ian Pannell,
ABC News,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The play is dominated by Lithgow’s towering portrait of the artist as a weary old giant who refuses to concede an inch of ground.—
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Others rely on patience, research, and the fact that the ground itself refuses to be reduced to one easy headline.—
Matthew Kayser,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
After three verse-chorus repetitions, the quartet stop the song cold and set off in a new direction, churning out pure noise even as drummer Steve Shelley keeps everyone anchored.—
Stephen M. Deusner,
Pitchfork,
27 Apr. 2026
-
In comparable territory, The Outsiders keeps things earnest, and even Stranger Things, for all its loopiness, plays its baby-monster antihero story tragic and straight.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
In an oppositional reading, the reader understands the dominant ideology expressed in the text but rejects it and interprets the text in an alternative way.—
Shepherd Mpofu,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
27 Apr. 2026
-
And with its bare Instagram presence, Antigone rejects polish for rawness, allowing the strength of its curation to speak for itself.—
Kat Chen,
Condé Nast Traveler,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Unlike most other races on the ballot, the June 2 election is not a primary and will determine who holds the board seat through June 2030.—
Jennah Pendleton,
Sacbee.com,
1 May 2026
-
Forecasters aren't sure what the future holds.—
Doyle Rice,
USA Today,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
The Bears are looking for tax breaks and incentives, but all that will do the Bears no good if part of their fan support declines.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Apr. 2026
-
The lottery will also assign waitlist positions to the remaining students in tier 2 and below if a student declines the funding.—
Mateo Rosiles,
USA Today,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Inter Miami defeated Orlando 4-2 at Inter&Co Stadium in March and possesses the firepower to replicate that result.—
Kyle Foley,
The Orlando Sentinel,
1 May 2026
-
The Higgs field also possesses electroweak and hypercharge.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
27 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Withholds.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/withholds. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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