RETRACT Synonyms: 65 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'retract' different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of retract are abjure , forswear , recant , and renounce . While all these words mean "to withdraw one's word or professed belief," retract applies to the withdrawing of a promise, an offer, or an accusation. // the newspaper had to retract the story

Q: When would 'abjure' be a good substitute for 'retract'?

The words abjure and retract are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, abjure implies a firm and final rejecting or abandoning often made under oath. // abjured the errors of his former faith

Q: In what contexts can 'forswear' take the place of 'retract'?

The meanings of forswear and retract largely overlap; however, forswear may add an implication of perjury or betrayal. // I cannot forswear my principles

Q: When might 'recant' be a better fit than 'retract'?

While in some cases nearly identical to retract , recant stresses the withdrawing or denying of something professed or taught. // if they recant they will be spared

Q: When is 'renounce' a more appropriate choice than 'retract'?

The synonyms renounce and retract are sometimes interchangeable, but renounce may carry the meaning of disclaim or disown. // renounced abstract art and turned to portrait painting

retract

verb

ri-ˈtrakt

Definition of retract

as in to withdraw

to solemnly or formally reject or go back on (as something formerly adhered to) the newspaper was forced to retract the story, which turned out to be based on fabricated reporting

Synonyms & Similar Words

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How is the word retract different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of retract are abjure, forswear, recant, and renounce. While all these words mean "to withdraw one's word or professed belief," retract applies to the withdrawing of a promise, an offer, or an accusation.

the newspaper had to retract the story

When would abjure be a good substitute for retract?

The words abjure and retract are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, abjure implies a firm and final rejecting or abandoning often made under oath.

abjured the errors of his former faith

In what contexts can forswear take the place of retract?

The meanings of forswear and retract largely overlap; however, forswear may add an implication of perjury or betrayal.

I cannot forswear my principles

When might recant be a better fit than retract?

While in some cases nearly identical to retract, recant stresses the withdrawing or denying of something professed or taught.

if they recant they will be spared

When is renounce a more appropriate choice than retract?

The synonyms renounce and retract are sometimes interchangeable, but renounce may carry the meaning of disclaim or disown.

renounced abstract art and turned to portrait painting

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 retract Vivo and Oppo phones have relied on various gimmicks, like smaller gimbals and pop-out lenses, to improve camera performance, though not to the extent of a physically retracting gimbal. — Florence Ion, PC Magazine, 12 Aug. 2026 When collagen weakens or elastin loses its recoil, skin cannot fully retract to fit the smaller frame underneath. — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Charlotte Observer, 10 Aug. 2026 Rumors swirled about Alito’s retirement plans after NPR published and then retracted an article by reporter Nina Totenberg that Alito would be retiring from his role on the bench at the end of the court’s 2025-26 term. — Molly Parks, The Washington Examiner, 7 Aug. 2026 The facial fat pads that create fullness in the cheeks and temples sometimes shrink faster than skin can retract, producing a characteristic hollowing and laxity. — Jesse Pines, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for retract

Recent Examples of Synonyms for retract

Verb

Being part of a dominant defense was one reason players like Camon withdrew from the NCAA transfer portal.

— Gerald Thomas III, Miami Herald, 20 Aug. 2026
The first clarifies that its PLX product does not provide law enforcement agencies with geolocation data, and the second says that the company has reached out to the complaint's authors to ask that the complaint against Penlink be withdrawn.

— Jude Joffe-Block, NPR, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of withdraw

Verb

Yermolaiev has lived in the glitzy city state on the Mediterranean coast for several years, having left Ukraine and renounced his Ukrainian citizenship in 2019 to become a citizen of Cyprus.

— Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2026
That starts with renouncing the use of military intervention as a first resort and ending the practice of diplomacy by airstrike.

— MARC LYNCH, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of renounce

Verb

Pro's marginal performance improvement over its cheaper V4 Flash, contradicts DeepSeek's prior narrative that AI was becoming too inexpensive.

— Jon Markman, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
O'Neill previewed the states' arguments, which rely heavily on internal Meta communications and studies that the states say contradicted many of the company's public statements.

— John Ruwitch, NPR, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of contradict

Verb

New state data obtained by the I-Team shows that 46% of cancer claims that firefighters filed in Texas between January 2021 and April 2026 were denied.

— Ginger Allen, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026
Two Jets front-office sources, on condition of anonymity because they’re not authorized to speak publicly, deny that, and Glenn has owned the decisions publicly.

— Jonathan Jones, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of deny

Browse Nearby Words

retouching

retract

retracted

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“Retract.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/retract. Accessed 23 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of retract

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