retarding

verb

present participle of retard
as in slowing
to cause to move or proceed at a less rapid pace an herbicide to retard the growth of weeds

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for retarding
  1. slowing
  2. braking
Verb
  • Now in his early nineties, Gregory (My Dinner with André, NYFF19) shows no sign of slowing down, as evidenced by this delightful, enormously moving document of his inextinguishable creative spark.
    — Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Rodriguez, who is is 50, said seeing someone more than 30 years his senior exhibiting so much energy on stage was an inspiring sign that getting older doesn’t necessarily mean slowing down.
    — Sal Pizarro, Mercury News, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of slowing
Verb
  • The car’s precise steering and remarkable braking system deliver a thrilling driving experience.
    — Jerry Perez, The Drive, 6 Aug. 2026
  • The Deadwood includes Road, Sport and Rain riding modes, cruise control, tire-pressure monitoring and cornering-sensitive traction and braking systems.
    — Josh Max, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026
Definition of braking
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.

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Cite this Entry

“Retarding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/retarding. Accessed 17 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on retarding

Nglish: Translation of retarding for Spanish Speakers

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