Holdback is a word used to represent a restraint, impediment, or obstacle. The opposite of holdback is an encouragement, a push, or a motivator. Some antonyms for holdback could be support, promotion, incentive, or reinforcement. In other words, when we want to counter the negative effects of holdback, we use these positive forces to help move things forward. For example, in the context of business, an incentive program could encourage employees or salespeople to work harder and meet their goals. In the context of education, teachers can provide strong support and reinforcement to help students overcome their challenges and achieve their potential.