Antonyms for the phrase "bringing to maturity" can include phrases such as "stunting growth," "repressing development," "hindering progress," or "preventing maturation." These antonyms signify a lack of progress or an intentional pause in the process of growth. The concept of maturity can pertain to various aspects, such as physical, mental, or even emotional, and therefore antonyms can differ based on the intended meaning. For instance, for mental growth, "regression" or "devolution" could be an antonym, while for physical growth, "atrophy" or "deterioration" might be more appropriate. Ultimately, antonyms that relate to stagnation or decline may be used to describe the opposite of the process of bringing something to maturity.