withhold

verb

with-ˈhōld How to pronounce withhold (audio)
Definition of withholdnext
1
as in to refuse
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 to retain
to continue to have in one's possession or power withhold some money for your own expenses

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word withhold distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of withhold are detain, keep, reserve, and retain. While all these words mean "to hold in one's possession or under one's control," withhold implies restraint in letting go or a refusal to let go.

withheld information from the authorities

When would detain be a good substitute for withhold?

The synonyms detain and withhold are sometimes interchangeable, but detain suggests a delay in letting go.

detained them for questioning

In what contexts can keep take the place of withhold?

While in some cases nearly identical to withhold, keep may suggest a holding securely in one's possession, custody, or control.

keep this while I'm gone

When is it sensible to use reserve instead of withhold?

The words reserve and withhold can be used in similar contexts, but reserve suggests a keeping in store for future use.

reserve some of your energy for the last mile

When might retain be a better fit than withhold?

In some situations, the words retain and withhold are roughly equivalent. However, retain implies continued keeping, especially against threatened seizure or forced loss.

managed to retain their dignity even in poverty

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 withhold The investigation comes a day after Trump threatened to withhold federal funding to the state over a transgender girl competing in state track and field championships this weekend. —William Melhado, Sacbee.com, 29 May 2025 The change was announced shortly after President Donald Trump threatened to withhold federal funding from California. —Staff, FOXNews.com, 28 May 2025 Those negotiations started earlier in the month, but did not get off the ground as Russia sent low-level officials, prompting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to withhold his own attendance. —Al Weaver, The Hill, 27 May 2025 Trump has also threatened the school's tax-exempt status and has withheld billions in federal funding since the school refused to comply with the administration's demands regarding campus policies and governance. —David Brennan, ABC News, 26 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for withhold
Recent Examples of Synonyms for withhold
  1. refuse
  2. retain
  3. deny
  4. keep
  5. reject
  6. hold
  7. decline
  8. preserve
Verb
  • Wyatt, the senior ace on his way to Michigan, and Walker, the gritty junior second baseman who refused to give up on his dream of starting, paused when trying to wrap their heads around the scene unfolding around them.
    — Troy Renck, Denver Post, 31 May 2025
  • However, the end of the conversation was probably the headline – that Amodei refused to rule out AI becoming self-aware in key ways.
    — John Werner, Forbes.com, 31 May 2025
Definition of refuse
Verb
  • Employers must retain personnel records and ADS data, including inputs, outputs, and data used to develop or customize the system, for at least four years.
    — Alonzo Martinez, Forbes.com, 23 May 2025
  • So far, the second-term Trump Administration has scrubbed federal websites, limited reporters’ access, and used disappearing-message apps for high-level communications that typically should be retained for posterity.
    — Chad de Guzman, Time, 23 May 2025
Definition of retain
Verb
  • At the very least, there’s no denying that Stewart has artistic conviction.
    — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 23 May 2025
  • The Boise City Council denied that appeal in April in a 4-1 vote, with Council Member Luci Willits the lone dissenter.
    — Nick Rosenberger, Idaho Statesman, 23 May 2025
Definition of deny
Verb
  • Cruising Altitude: Air traffic control keeps planes moving.
    — Zach Wichter, USA Today, 23 May 2025
  • Instead, the characters keep finding themselves in implausibly dangerous situations, where a procession of coincidences might lead to them getting squished, impaled, or otherwise maimed.
    — David Sims, The Atlantic, 22 May 2025
Definition of keep
Verb
  • Brentford have rejected an offer of around €9million (£7.6m; $10.2m) from Bayer Leverkusen for their first-choice goalkeeper Mark Flekken but negotiations are ongoing over a potential deal.
    — Jay Harris, New York Times, 30 May 2025
  • Paramount is currently engaged in mediation talks with Trump’s attorneys, who recently rejected a $15 million settlement offer and threatened further litigation, The Wall Street Journal reported earlier this week.
    — Dominick Mastrangelo, The Hill, 30 May 2025
Definition of reject
Verb
  • Kelly holds a political science degree from Wichita State University.
    — Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 28 May 2025
  • The Forty Mile Tattoo Convention will be held Friday, July 25, to Sunday, July 27, at Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Sacramento, 3317 Forty Mile Road in Wheatland.
    — Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado, Sacbee.com, 28 May 2025
Definition of hold
Verb
  • Citigroup, Bank of America and Wells Fargo declined to comment on the WSJ report.
    — John Bacon, USA Today, 26 May 2025
  • The State Department declined to comment on the pope’s status.
    — Russ Bynum, Chicago Tribune, 25 May 2025
Definition of decline
Verb
  • The approved budget would preserve the portion of the program for those 65 and older, allocating $110 million for that coverage.
    — Dan Petrella, Chicago Tribune, 1 June 2025
  • For You, these acts are attempts to preserve art’s political orientation as left-wing and capitalism-critical—albeit produced under extreme capitalist conditions and in full awareness of that cognitive dissonance.
    — Diedrich Diederichsen, Artforum, 1 June 2025
Definition of preserve

Phrases Containing withhold

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withheld (from)
withhold
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Cite this Entry

“Withhold.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/withhold. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.

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