Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.
Source: tatoeba (2793315)
Withhold
/wɪθˈhoʊld/
Synonyms for "withhold" (251 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (51)
Strong matches (75)
Verb(22 words)
Noun(20 words)
denyingdissentsdistort the factsdockdockingdocksembargoembargoesembargoinges privadofallowsgarnishgarnisheeinggarnishinggrudgesgunnysackshoardsimpoundimpoundsitalian negare
Adjective(4 words)
Related words (125)
keepkeep backkeep between uskeep buttoned upkeep by onekeep closekeep darkkeep fromkeep inkeep in checkkeep in ignorancekeep in reservekeep in storekeep mumkeep on handkeep outkeep secretkeep snugkeep under controlkeep under wraps
Show 49 more words
lay bylay under restraintleave well enough alonelet alonelet go bylet well enough alonemake no signnever let onnever touchnot give awaynot tellnot touchpass upplay dumbpreserveprohibitpullpull input apartput asideput byrefrainrefrain fromrefusereinrein inreserverestrainretainretardretrenchsavesave upsecreteset apartset asideset backset byshunslow downsnubsparestand aloofstand aloof fromstiflestintstraitensuspendveil
Verb(20 words)
keep a secretkeep backmisdirectsmystifiedrecouprefrainedrefuserefuse paymentrejectrepressrescindedrestrict privilegesretainretenersequesteredshow restraintsubtractsuppresssuppressedwithhold data
Noun(29 words)
Determiner(1 words)
no label
Adjective(6 words)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: deduct, abstain, abstain from, arrest, avoid.
- Sentence evidence is available for withhold, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, moby, derived_reverse, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "withhold".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "withhold"
Keep "withhold" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "withhold" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "withhold", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "withhold" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
7 entriesMore specific
9 entriespension withholdingsalary withholdingtax withholdingwithhold accesswithhold datawithhold detailswithhold findingswithhold paymentwithhold permission
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
2 entriesTranslations
18 translations across 12 languages.
Arabic
1 entries- إستئثار verb (to retain)
Bulgarian
2 entries- спирам verb (to retain)
- удържам verb (to retain)
Catalan
1 entries- retenir verb (to retain)
Chinese Mandarin
2 entries- 保留 verb (to retain)
- 扣留 verb (to retain)
Czech
4 entries- odepřít verb (to retain)
- odmítnout verb (to retain)
- podržet si verb (to retain)
- ponechat si verb (to retain)
Dutch
2 entries- onthouden verb (to retain)
- onttrekken (aan) verb (to retain)
Finnish
1 entries- evätä verb (to retain)
German
1 entries- vorenthalten verb (to retain)
Hungarian
1 entries- visszatart verb (to retain)
Māori
1 entries- meko verb (to retain)
Portuguese
1 entries- reter verb (to retain)
Spanish
1 entries- retener verb (to retain)
Sample sentences
20 total sentences available.
Do not withhold Your tender mercies from me, O Lord.
Source: tatoeba (3450383)
"What Myrmidon, or who / of stern Ulysses' warriors can withhold / his tears, to tell such things, as thou would'st have re-told?"
Source: tatoeba (6804465)
"Ten days the seer, as shrinking to reply / or name a victim, did the doom withhold."
Source: tatoeba (6811830)
Showing 4 of 20 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "withhold"?
Closest matches include deduct, abstain, abstain from, arrest, avoid.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "withhold"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.