| Main Entry: | |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | keep back |
| Synonyms: | abstain, bridle, check, clam up, conceal, constrain, curb, deduct, deny, detain, disallow, dummy up, hide, hold, hold back, hold down, hold out, hold out on, inhibit, keep, keep secret, keep to oneself, keep under one's hat, keep under wraps, kill, refrain, refuse, repress, reserve, resist, restrain, retain, sit on, spike, stop oneself, suppress |
| Antonyms: | let go, release |
| Main Entry: | bridle |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | check, hold back |
| Synonyms: | constrain, control, curb, govern, inhibit, keep in check, master, moderate, repress, restrain, rule, subdue, suppress, withhold |
| Notes: | bridal relates to a bride or a marriage ceremony while a bridle is a harness |
| Antonyms: | let go, release, set free |
| Main Entry: | censor |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | forbid; ban; selectively remove |
| Synonyms: | abridge, black out, blacklist, bleach, bleep, blue-pencil, bowdlerize, clean up, conceal, control, cork, criticize, cut, decontaminate, delete, drop the iron curtain, edit, examine, excise, expurgate, exscind, inspect, launder, narrow, oversee, prevent publication, purge, purify, put the lid on, refuse transmission, repress, restrain, restrict, review, revile, sanitize, scissor out, squelch, sterilize, strike out, supervise communications, suppress, withhold |
| Notes: | to censor is to disallow portions or the entireties of books, plays, etc. on the grounds that they transgress propriety, 'to scrutinize, revise, or cut,' expurgate or suppress; to censure is to criticize vehemently or harshly, or condemn |
| Antonyms: | allow, approve, endorse, permit, sanction |
| Main Entry: | check |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | hinder, restrain |
| Synonyms: | arrest, baffle, bar, bit, bottleneck, bridle, checkmate, choke, circumvent, constrain, control, counteract, curb, cut short, delay, discourage, foil, frustrate, halt, harness, hold, hold back, hold down, hold in, impede, inhibit, interrupt, keep back, limit, moderate, neutralize, nip in the bud, obstruct, obviate, pause, play for time, preclude, prevent, rebuff, reduce, rein in, repress, repulse, retard, slacken pace, slow down, snub, squelch, stay, stop, suppress, tame, terminate, thwart, withhold |
| Antonyms: | aid, allow, assist, expedite, help, indulge, liberate, permit |
| Main Entry: | constrain |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | force; restrain |
| Synonyms: | ban, bar, bind, bottle up, bridle, chain, check, coerce, compel, concuss, confine, constrict, cool off, cork, curb, deny, deprive, disallow, drive, hem in, hog-tie, hold back, hold down, hold in, immure, impel, imprison, incarcerate, inhibit, intern, jail, keep lid on, make, necessitate, oblige, pressure, pressurize, put half nelson on, shotgun, stifle, urge, withhold |
| Antonyms: | free, let go, release |
| Main Entry: | curb |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | repress, restrict |
| Synonyms: | abstain, bit, bottle up, box in, bridle, bring to screeching halt, check, clog, constrain, contain, control, cook*, cool down, cool off, deny, entrammel, fetter, hamper, hinder, hobble, hog-tie, hold back, hold down, hold in, ice*, impede, inhibit, keep lid on, keep tight rein on, leash, manacle, moderate, muzzle, refrain, rein in, restrain, retard, scrub, send up, shackle, subdue, suppress, tame, tie, tie up, withhold |
| Antonyms: | aid, assist, encourage, foster, help |
| Main Entry: | delay |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | cause stop in action |
| Synonyms: | adjourn, arrest, bar, bide time, block, check, choke, clog, confine, curb, dawdle, defer, detain, deter, dilly-dally, discourage, drag, encumber, filibuster, gain time, hamper, hold, hold over, impede, inhibit, interfere, intermit, keep, keep back, lag, lay over, linger, loiter, obstruct, postpone, prevent, procrastinate, prolong, prorogue, protract, put off, remand, repress, restrict, retard, shelve, slacken, stall, stave off, stay, suspend, table, tarry, temporize, withhold |
| Notes: | various things may cause a delay, but a postponement will result from the action of a person |
| Antonyms: | advance, dispatch, expedite, further, hasten, hurry, rush, speed |
| Main Entry: | deny |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | disagree, renounce, decline |
| Synonyms: | abjure, abnegate, ban, begrudge, call on, contradict, contravene, controvert, curb, disacknowledge, disallow, disavow, disbelieve, discard, disclaim, discredit, disown, disprove, doubt, enjoin from, eschew, exclude, forbid, forgo, forsake, gainsay, hold back, keep back, negate, negative, not buy, nullify, oppose, rebuff, rebut, recant, refuse, refute, reject, repudiate, restrain, revoke, sacrifice, say no to, spurn, taboo, take exception to, turn down, turn thumbs down, veto, withhold |
| Notes: | deny means to declare untrue or refuse to accept or believe or to refuse to recognize or acknowledge; refute means to prove to be false, wrong, or incorrect |
| Antonyms: | accede, acknowledge, admit, affirm, agree, allow, concede, confess, corroborate, go along, grant |
| Main Entry: | detain |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | hold, keep back; arrest |
| Synonyms: | apprehend, bog down, bust, buttonhole, check, confine, constrain, decelerate, delay, hang up, hinder, hold up, ice*, impede, inhibit, intern, jail, mire, nab, pick up, pinch*, pull in, put away, reserve, restrain, retard, run in, send up, set back, slow down, slow up, withhold |
| Antonyms: | free, let go, liberate, release |