held down
Pinned in place
Held down combines physical restraint with metaphorical suppression.
To hold someone down is to pin them in place: Two officers held him down while a third applied handcuffs.
Figuratively, being held down means kept from advancing or succeeding, often by systemic forces: She refused to be held down by low expectations.
To hold down a job is to maintain it steadily, suggesting effort against forces that might dislodge you.
Fixed firmly, immobilized
- trappedUnable to escape
- immobilizedMade unable to move
- subduedReduced in intensity
- wrestledEngaged in combat sport
grappled · overpowered · tackled · restrained · weighted · anchored · secured · bound
Limited in scope
- constrainedForced into narrow limits
- hinderedSlowed or obstructed
- impededObstructed or slowed
- blockedPassage prevented or impeded
throttled · capped · curtailed · stifled · checked · curbed · hampered · bottlenecked
Brought under control
- suppressedForcibly held down
- dominatedControlled or overpowered
- persecutedSubjected to hostile treatment
- exploitedUnfairly utilized for benefit
marginalized · silenced · repressed · controlled · tyrannized · enslaved · coerced · intimidated
pinned
Fixed firmly, immobilized
- trappedUnable to escape
- immobilizedMade unable to move
- subduedReduced in intensity
wrestled · grappled · overpowered · tackled · restrained · weighted · anchored · secured · bound · strapped
restricted
Limited in scope
- constrainedForced into narrow limits
- hinderedSlowed or obstructed
- impededObstructed or slowed
blocked · throttled · capped · curtailed · stifled · checked · curbed · hampered · bottlenecked · suppressed
subjugated
Brought under control
- suppressedForcibly held down
- dominatedControlled or overpowered
- persecutedSubjected to hostile treatment
exploited · marginalized · silenced · repressed · controlled · tyrannized · enslaved · coerced · intimidated · disenfranchised
kept
Didn't give away
- maintainedKept in condition
- retainedContinued to hold
- securedMade fast or obtained
managed · juggled · balanced · sustained · worked · staffed · occupied · filled · performed · handled
held downreleased
Set free from confinement
let go · freed · lifted up · raised · unrestrained
hold, down, held, downtown, holding, downfall, uphold, downward, download