withhold

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 Passports withheld, questions unanswered All of these issues have left people like Westley Ebling with passport applications in a state of limbo, with no word from the State Department, and important documents, like old passports and birth certificates, withheld. Jaclyn Diaz, NPR, 21 Feb. 2025 He was later indicted for involuntary manslaughter and stood trial in July, where the judge dismissed the case with prejudice after Alec’s lawyers argued that the prosecutors withheld evidence. Liza Esquibias, People.com, 20 Feb. 2025 In the meantime, the federal government could threaten to withhold funding for other New York programs and projects until congestion pricing is stopped. Winnie Hu, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2025 The victim's identity was being withheld pending next-of-kin identification, police said. Natalie Neysa Alund, USA TODAY, 10 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for withhold
Recent Examples of Synonyms for withhold
Verb
  • Nevertheless, a select few, like then San Francisco Giants closer Brian Wilson who famously sported a thick black beard, refused to so much as meet with the Yankees because of the rule.
    Marc Edelman, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2025
  • Frame refuses to bask in her exceptionalism, her almost miraculous escape.
    Audrey Wollen, The New Yorker, 25 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • The filing stated that almost 5,800 USAID awards for future work, and approximately 4,100 distributed through the State Department, will be terminated, while around 500 USAID awards and roughly 2,700 State Department awards will be retained.
    MaryAlice Parks, ABC News, 28 Feb. 2025
  • That contest went the 12-round distance, with Herring retaining his belt.
    Trent Reinsmith, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Many criticized his decision as a capitulation to Donald Trump, though Bezos denied those claims.
    Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 28 Feb. 2025
  • Andrew Tate was also charged with rape, and both brothers have denied all accusations.
    Compiled by Democrat-Gazette staff from wire reports, arkansasonline.com, 28 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Many officers presumed that the only way to advance up the ranks, or avoid a hazing, or even keep their jobs, was to be supplicant to the brass.
    Marc J. Dunkelman, TIME, 27 Feb. 2025
  • Government funding expires on March 14, and keeping the government open past the deadline will likely require bipartisan support in both the House and Senate.
    Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 27 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Never the favorite of his party's professional advisers, Merz was twice rejected as Merkel's successor as party leader, in 2018 and 2021, before his doggedness won out in 2022.
    Thomas Escritt, USA TODAY, 24 Feb. 2025
  • Today, far-right parties like the AfD seek to embrace a different model that rejects political integration in favor of an economic union along the lines of earlier, postwar integration.
    TIME, TIME, 23 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • In contrast, the U.S. criminal justice system holds public hearings, jails and prisons publish rosters of detainees, and criminal charges and sentences are made public.
    Trevor Hughes, USA TODAY, 22 Feb. 2025
  • With the House in recess, many members of Congress have held town halls and attended other events in their districts this week, giving their constituents a chance to confront lawmakers in person to express their discontent about budget cuts and the layoffs of federal workers by DOGE.
    Caitlin Yilek, CBS News, 21 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • The average home price in the six-county region declined 0.4% from December to $862,115 in January, according to Zillow, marking the sixth consecutive month of declines.
    Andrew Khouri, Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2025
  • Another recent poll shows declining confidence, specifically in Republican individuals, in health agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration.
    Ars Technica, Ars Technica, 18 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Fourteen years later, the Left is still mad about Act 10, and Wisconsin voters must elect Brad Schimel to the supreme court on April 1 to preserve it.
    The Editors, National Review, 25 Feb. 2025
  • Much of her early efforts had been poorly preserved as a result.
    David Bloom, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2025

Cite this Entry

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

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