"Held bay" can be described as a condition where a person is restrained or detained, whereas the antonyms for this phrase would include words that describe freedom, liberty and release. Some of the possible antonyms for "held bay" could be: free, liberated, released, emancipated, unbound, unchecked, unconfined, unfettered, unhampered and unrestrained. These words signify a sense of independence, a release from bondage, and a lack of restrictions. The use of antonyms would help to express the opposite meaning of a sentence or phrase, and to provide a clearer and more precise expression of the writer's intended message.