Popular Searches
Nearby Words
held off
| Main Entry: |
hold back/hold off
|
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | repress |
| Synonyms: | bit, bridle, check, control, curb, defer, delay, deny, forbear, hold down, hold in, inhibit, keep, keep back, keep out, postpone, prevent, put off, refrain, refuse, restrain, stop, suppress, withhold |
| Antonyms: | let go, reveal |
| Main Entry: | avoid |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | refrain or stay away from; prevent |
| Synonyms: | abstain, avert, bypass, circumlocute, circumvent, deflect, desist, ditch, divert, dodge, duck, elude, escape, eschew, evade, fake out, fend off, flee, give the slip, hide, hold off, jump, keep clear, lay low, obviate, recoil, run for cover, shake, shake and bake, shake off, shirk, shrink from, shuffle off, shun, shy, sidestep, skip out on, skip town, skip*, skirt, stay away, stay out, steer clear of, step aside, turn aside, ward off, weave, withdraw |
| Notes: | avert means 'prevent, turn away' and avoid means 'stay clear of, shun' |
| Antonyms: | face, meet, seek, want |
* = informal/non-formal usage
| Main Entry: | deflect |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | bounce off; turn aside |
| Synonyms: | avert, bend, cover up, curve, deviate, disperse, diverge, divert, fend, glance off, hold off, hook, keep off, parry, pivot, ricochet, sheer, shy, sidetrack, slew, slip, swerve, twist, veer, volte-face, wheel, whip, whirl, wind |
| Main Entry: | discourage |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | deter, dissuade; restrain |
| Synonyms: | check, chill, control, curb, deprecate, disadvise, discountenance, disfavor, disincline, divert, frighten, hinder, hold back, hold off, impede, indispose, inhibit, interfere, keep back, obstruct, prevent, put off, quiet, repress, scare, shake, talk out of, throw cold water on, turn aside, turn off, warn, withhold |
| Antonyms: | encourage, inspire, spur on |
| Main Entry: | hesitate |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | wait; be uncertain |
| Synonyms: | alternate, balance, balk, be irresolute, be reluctant, be unwilling, blow hot and cold, dally, debate, defer, delay, demur, dillydally, dither, doubt, equivocate, falter, flounder, fluctuate, fumble, hang back, hang*, hedge, hem and haw, hold back, hold off, hover, linger, oscillate, pause, ponder, pull back, pussyfoot, scruple, seesaw, shift, shrink, shy away, sit on fence, stammer, stop, straddle, stumble, stutter, swerve, tergiversate, think about, think twice, vacillate, waffle, waver, weigh |
| Antonyms: | attack, carry on, continue, go, go ahead, persevere, resolve |
* = informal/non-formal usage
| Main Entry: | hold up |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | postpone |
| Synonyms: | delay, detain, hinder, hold off, impede, interfere, interrupt, pause, prorogue, retard, set back, slow down, stay, stop, suspend, waive |
| Antonyms: | allow, continue, forward, permit, promote |
| Main Entry: | pigeonhole |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | categorize; shelve |
| Synonyms: | assort, class, classify, defer, delay, dismiss, file, group, hold, hold off, hold up, label, lay aside, peg, postpone, put aside, put down as, put off, put on hold, put on ice, put on the bank burner, rank, sideline, sort, tab, table, type cast |
| Main Entry: | postpone |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | put off till later time |
| Synonyms: | adjourn, cool it, defer, delay, give a rain check, hang fire, hold off, hold over, hold up, lay over, pigeonhole, prorogue, put back, put on back burner, put on hold, shelve, suspend, table |
| Antonyms: | carry out, continue, do, expedite, forward, maintain, persevere |
| Main Entry: | prevent |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | keep from happening or continuing |
| Synonyms: | anticipate, arrest, avert, avoid, baffle, balk, bar, block, check, chill*, cool, cork, counter, counteract, dam, debar, defend against, foil, forbid, forestall, forfend, frustrate, halt, hamper, head off, hinder, hold back, hold off, impede, inhibit, intercept, interdict, interrupt, keep lid on, limit, nip in the bud, obstruct, obviate, preclude, prohibit, put a stop to, put an end to, repress, restrain, restrict, retard, rule out, shut out, stave off, stop, thwart, turn aside, ward off |
| Antonyms: | aid, allow, assist, cause, help, let go |
* = informal/non-formal usage
Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition
Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.
Cite This Source
Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition
Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.
Cite This Source
Copyright © 2013 Dictionary.com, LLC. All rights reserved.
