Synonyms of holds back

holds back

verb

present tense third-person singular of hold back

1

as in hampers

to create difficulty for the work or activity of

the only thing holding them back from joining the swim team is lack of transportation

Synonyms & Similar Words

• hampers
• hinders
• impedes
• embarrasses
• obstructs
• interferes (with)
• handicaps
• blocks
• ties up
• holds up
• inhibits
• delays
• gives a hard time
• cramps
• short-circuits
• hog-ties
• stymies
• clogs
• disrupts
• hobbles
• encumbers
• shackles
• handcuffs
• cramps one's style
• restrains
• trammels
• fetters
• constrains
• ties
• reins
• thwarts
• curbs
• manacles
• binds
• frustrates
• chains
• brakes
• checks
• bogs (down)
• balks
• retains
• retards
• stifles
• tethers
• leashes
• arrests
• chokes
• barricades
• baffles
• hedges (in)
• roadblocks
• confines
• foils
• strangles
• halters
• mires
• hems (in)
• blockades
• sabotages
• derails
• stumps
• suffocates
• smothers
• represses
• muzzles
• suppresses

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• helps
• facilitates
• assists
• aids
• opens
• makes way
• releases
• clears
• unstops
• liberates
• frees
• unties
• encourages
• promotes
• unclogs
• loosens
• smoothes
• unplugs
• smooths
• furthers

2

as in stifles

to refrain from openly showing or uttering

held back her tears until she was alone

Synonyms & Similar Words

• stifles
• suppresses
• swallows
• chokes (back)
• contains
• represses
• controls
• pockets
• manages
• smothers
• submerges
• strangles
• sinks
• governs
• curbs
• checks
• quells
• quashes
• bottles up
• bridles
• muffles
• squelches

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• takes out
• expresses
• releases
• unleashes
• looses
• vents