Definitions

withhold

[with-hohld, with-] / wɪθˈhoʊld, wɪð- /

VERB

keep back

Synonyms

STRONGEST

conceal deduct deny detain hide keep refuse resist retain suppress

STRONG

abstain bridle check constrain curb disallow hold inhibit kill refrain repress reserve restrain spike

WEAK

clam up dummy up hold back hold down hold out hold out on keep secret keep to oneself keep under one's hat keep under wraps sit on stop oneself

Antonyms

STRONGEST

allow disclose divulge expose free go along grant lay bare let go let out open release reveal show tell uncover

STRONG

aid assist help indulge liberate permit use

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

There is no good reason to withhold the data.

From MarketWatch • May 27, 2026

Many threatened to withhold military supplies, or actually did withhold them.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 22, 2026

He said the government may have good reasons to withhold some material but did not have the authority to do so and ministers should seek MPs' approval to retain certain pieces of information.

From BBC • May 15, 2026

Sir Keir told MPs he found it "staggering" that "officials in the Foreign Office saw fit to withhold this information" from ministers.

From BBC • May 6, 2026

“You didn’t tell me you had a guest for dinner last night. Why did you withhold information, Toodles?”

From "Confessions of a Murder Suspect" by James Patterson

Vocabulary lists containing withhold

The Pearl

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100 SAT words Beginning with W,X,Y, and Z

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"Julius Caesar" by William Shakespeare, Act III

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