as in deleting
to make changes to (something written) so as to remove or obscure information
Because the victims were minors, their full names were redacted from public court records. The declassified documents were heavily redacted before they were released.
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Recent Examples of redacting
The department has faced criticism for not redacting the names of some victims as required when the files were released, and for withholding many documents.
—
Dan Mangan,
CNBC,
8 June 2026
Advertisement The department has also drawn criticism for redacting the names of some high-profile individuals who appeared to be associated with Epstein from the files while failing to obscure potentially identifying information about victims.
—
Connor Greene,
Time,
29 Apr. 2026
The files her department eventually released also revealed victims’ names and personal information, while redacting details not eligible to be hidden from the public under the law.
—
Claire Heddles,
Miami Herald,
14 Apr. 2026
Justice Department officials have slow-walked the release by redacting and withholding records, further dragging it out.
—
Kevin Rector,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Feb. 2026
The department has faced scrutiny for redacting the names of certain individuals, including nonvictims.
—
David Zimmermann,
The Washington Examiner,
15 Feb. 2026
Emotions were hot during a House Judiciary Committee hearing this past week where Bondi was assailed by lawmakers from both sides of the aisle, who accused the Justice Department of redacting the names of multiple men for political reasons.
—
Phillip M. Bailey,
USA Today,
13 Feb. 2026
Democrats have accused the Justice Department of redacting information that should have been made public, including information that could lead to scrutiny of Epstein’s associates.
—
Eric Tucker,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Feb. 2026
Some observers have accused the department of over-redacting the files, while some attorneys for Epstein survivors say the department failed to properly redact their clients' names before publishing the files to a government database.
—
Jacob Rosen,
CBS News,
11 Feb. 2026
Dan Mangan,
CNBC,
8 June 2026
Advertisement The department has also drawn criticism for redacting the names of some high-profile individuals who appeared to be associated with Epstein from the files while failing to obscure potentially identifying information about victims.
—
Connor Greene,
Time,
29 Apr. 2026
The files her department eventually released also revealed victims’ names and personal information, while redacting details not eligible to be hidden from the public under the law.
—
Claire Heddles,
Miami Herald,
14 Apr. 2026
Justice Department officials have slow-walked the release by redacting and withholding records, further dragging it out.
—
Kevin Rector,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Feb. 2026
The department has faced scrutiny for redacting the names of certain individuals, including nonvictims.
—
David Zimmermann,
The Washington Examiner,
15 Feb. 2026
Emotions were hot during a House Judiciary Committee hearing this past week where Bondi was assailed by lawmakers from both sides of the aisle, who accused the Justice Department of redacting the names of multiple men for political reasons.
—
Phillip M. Bailey,
USA Today,
13 Feb. 2026
Democrats have accused the Justice Department of redacting information that should have been made public, including information that could lead to scrutiny of Epstein’s associates.
—
Eric Tucker,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Feb. 2026
Some observers have accused the department of over-redacting the files, while some attorneys for Epstein survivors say the department failed to properly redact their clients' names before publishing the files to a government database.
—
Jacob Rosen,
CBS News,
11 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for redacting
Verb
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If an app starts asking for data access or input that is irrelevant to its core function, users should be educated to consider deleting it.
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Unlike a text, there’s no drafting, deleting or do-over.
Verb
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Maybe Destiny 2 needed to end at some point, but there’s a difference between that and announcing the next stage of the IP, and erasing it from existence and laying off the hundreds of talented team members still making great content right down to the last minute.
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Electronic dance music scholars have noted that countercultural scenes have shifted into a global industry, reshaping or erasing local meanings in favor of commercialization.
Verb
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Having clarity around service charges is the only way eateries can survive, said restaurateur Eddie Pozzuoli, who runs Eddie & Vinny’s in Coral Springs — because the only alternative to removing fees is hiking prices.
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Lemon can be used for everything from freshening bed linens to removing stains from clothes–including cleaning your microwave.
Cite this Entry
“Redacting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/redacting. Accessed 28 Jun. 2026.
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