| Rating | Solver | Clue |
|---|---|---|
| BATED | Held back (breath) | |
| RESTRAINED | Held back | |
| STEMMED | Held back | |
| SPY | Gypsy held back agent | |
| EMU | Bird held back by plumes | |
| PENTUP | Closely confined or held back | |
| RITENUTO | Held back; holding back; ritardando. | |
| OMEGA | Ending held back by average movie | |
| RENAL | Llanero held back concerning his kidneys | |
| CIGAR | Tragically held back product of Havana | |
| ANTENNA | Anna held net back from aerial | |
| NEHRU | Your henchman held back Indira’s dad | |
| PANIC | Terror held back by sceptic in apocalypse | |
| AZTEC | Ancient empire held back by nice tzar | |
| DEMON | Don held me back from evil spirit | |