unsay

verb

un·​say ˌən-ˈsā 

Southern also -ˈse

unsaid ˌən-ˈsed  ; unsaying ˌən-ˈsā-iŋ 

transitive verb

: to make as if not said : recant, retract

Synonyms of unsay

• retract
• renounce
• withdraw
• deny
• contradict

Examples of unsay in a Sentence

the witness tried to unsay the very testimony that he had given a few days earlier

Recent Examples on the Web

Now, there is no way to unsay it. — Literary Hub, 29 Apr. 2026

In a serious dispute, what’s left unsaid can hurt you just as much as what’s said badly. — Michael Gargiulo, Forbes.com, 22 May 2026

In fact, there is little that Obama has left unsaid about Trump in the past fifteen years. — Peter Slevin, New Yorker, 4 May 2026

And what stands out is what is unsaid, the life stories of the people who were owned by our president, who worked those plantations, who served these presidents. — Tonya Mosley, NPR, 5 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for unsay

• airway
• allay
• archway
• array
• ashtray
• assez
• astray
• aue
• away
• ballet
• belay
• beltway

Kids Definition

unsay

verb

un·​say ˌən-ˈsā 

ˈən-

unsaid -ˈsed  ; unsaying -ˈsā-iŋ 

: to take back something said : retract