RETAINS Synonyms: 94 Similar and Opposite Words

retains

verb

present tense third-person singular of retain

as in keeps

to continue to have in one's possession or power I plan to retain the family heirlooms until my own children are mature enough to appreciate them, and then I will lovingly pass them on

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Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in owns

to keep, control, or experience as one's own that author retains the right to veto any changes in his books suggested by his publisher's notoriously intrusive editor

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in employs

to provide with a paying job her neighbor retained her as a nanny for the summer, thus giving her something to do until school started again

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of retains With the upgrade, Apple retains the size of the M4 Mac mini but packs a new M6 processor to deliver four times better AI performance, two times faster storage and graphics, and 40% better CPU performance, the company says. — Jibin Joseph, PC Magazine, 25 Aug. 2026 But get past the hype, and what follows is a good example of how to conduct deeply personal journalistic work that retains both a level of compassion and criticism. — Becca James, Vulture, 25 Aug. 2026 With Chandimal still unavailable, Sooriyabandara retains his place for the second test, which Sri Lanka must win to level the series. — ABC News, 23 Aug. 2026 While Russia retains a presence, the era of it operating these as independent military outposts is over. — Paul Iddon, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026 Quantum mechanics means even the lowest-energy state retains unavoidable fluctuations in its fields. — Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 22 Aug. 2026 An advisory jury will hear the evidence and reach a verdict, but the decision isn't legally binding, and Gonzalez Rogers retains the final say. — Jeffrey Kopp, CNBC, 22 Aug. 2026 Versant retains Comcast’s cable leftovers and the digital assets. — Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 18 Aug. 2026 Despite that electoral defeat, Curtis remains in charge of Shasta County elections through the remainder of his term and retains authority over personnel decisions in his office. — Drew Askeland, USA Today, 18 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for retains

Verb

Developed by researchers at the University of Queensland and the University of New South Wales (UNSW), the technology keeps critical medical decisions under human control while the cockroaches navigate difficult environments.

— Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 27 Aug. 2026
Drapery panels in Jim Thompson’s Choisya, trimmed in Samuel & Sons, frame the couple’s vintage breakfront, which keeps Khouri’s Royal Crown Derby china within reach.

— Caroline Randall Williams, Architectural Digest, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of keeps

Verb

Geoff Wilson, a 2001 UF graduate from Sarasota, owns the only one printed.

— Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 Aug. 2026
Fenway Sports Group, which also owns the Boston Red Sox, reportedly sold 40% of Premier League club Liverpool to a consortium that includes Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.

— Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of owns

Verb

Others pointed out that California Forever has political clout because its chief lobbying firm, Axiom Advisors, employs several of Newsom’s friends and former officials.

— Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 26 Aug. 2026
Raley’s owns and runs more than 100 grocery stores and employs roughly 11,500 workers, according to the company’s website.

— Queenie Wong, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of employs

Verb

San Bruno’s 1-million-cubic-foot facility alone holds more than 750,000 immigration case files, many of which document Asian American and Pacific Islander history on the West Coast.

— Stephanie Lam, Mercury News, 24 Aug. 2026
Ivan’s room feels practically airless, his face obscured in shadows, or captured in hazy side profiles, as Anica’s bright, concerned gaze holds the frame’s focus.

— Beatrice Loayza, Variety, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of holds

Verb

Wolf succumbs to Shura, a demonic force in the game’s mythology that possesses those who give in to bloodlust.

— Aman Kumar, Encyclopedia Britannica, 27 Aug. 2026
The observations show the red supergiant has an atmosphere with a temperature of around 3,680 degrees Fahrenheit (2,030 degrees Celsius), but possesses at least two regions even hotter than this.

— Robert Lea, Space.com, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of possesses

Verb

Opponents argue that the nation that won its independence from Denmark in 1944 enjoys all the benefits of European integration with no drawbacks.

— ABC News, ABC News, 24 Aug. 2026
The Palazzo Dandolo Paolucci, to give the property its full and proper title, enjoys a nuanced genealogy.

— Nielsen Dinwoodie, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of enjoys

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retaining

retains

retake

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“Retains.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/retains. Accessed 29 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of retains

verb

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