unsay

verb

un·​say ˌən-ˈsā How to pronounce unsay (audio)
Southern also -ˈse
unsaid ˌən-ˈsed How to pronounce unsay (audio) ; unsaying ˌən-ˈsā-iŋ How to pronounce unsay (audio)
Synonyms of unsaynext

transitive verb

: to make as if not said : recant, retract

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
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.
Now, there is no way to unsay it. Literary Hub, 29 Apr. 2026 Left unsaid was that the former group, which included Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk and Jauan Jennings, could be unpredictable and a challenge to coaches and teammates alike. Jerry McDonald, Mercury News, 25 Apr. 2026 The truth that is often unsaid: NFL teams are required to report each of their 30 visits to the league office, and every team in the league gets access to that information. Zack Rosenblatt, New York Times, 21 Apr. 2026 Answer too quickly and risk revealing biases best left unsaid, these neighborhood guardians are perhaps too slow to learn. Greg Evans, Deadline, 21 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for unsay

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of unsay was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Unsay.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unsay. Accessed 4 May. 2026.

Kids Definition

unsay

verb
un·​say ˌən-ˈsā How to pronounce unsay (audio)
ˈən-
unsaid -ˈsed How to pronounce unsay (audio) ; unsaying -ˈsā-iŋ How to pronounce unsay (audio)
: to take back something said : retract
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