Synonyms of retained

retained 1 of 2

adjective

as in possessed

Related Words

• possessed
• owned
• protected
• loved
• valued
• cherished
• treasured
• prized

Dissimilar Words

• gone
• lost
• misplaced
• missing
• absent
• mislaid
• irretrievable
• irrecoverable
• castaway

retained

2 of 2

verb

past tense of retain

1

as in kept

to continue to have in one's possession or power

I plan to retain the family heirlooms until my own children are mature enough to appreciate them, and then I will lovingly pass them on

Synonyms & Similar Words

• kept
• held
• preserved
• possessed
• withheld
• saved
• reserved
• had
• protected
• conserved
• owned
• enjoyed
• guarded
• held on to
• boasted
• managed
• hung on to
• controlled
• ruled
• detained
• directed
• bore
• cherished
• clung (to)
• commanded
• hugged
• harbored
• treasured

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• released
• yielded
• surrendered
• abandoned
• dropped
• gave
• contributed
• relinquished
• ceded
• gave up
• donated
• discarded
• lost
• handed over
• rejected
• dumped
• declined
• repudiated
• handed out
• spurned

2

as in owned

to keep, control, or experience as one's own

that author retains the right to veto any changes in his books suggested by his publisher's notoriously intrusive editor

Synonyms & Similar Words

• owned
• had
• possessed
• enjoyed
• held
• commanded
• kept
• withheld
• reserved
• rejoiced in
• carried
• boasted
• bore
• sported
• showed off

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• lacked
• wanted
• abandoned
• relinquished
• yielded
• surrendered
• ceded
• renounced
• discarded
• dumped
• handed over
• required
• rejected
• needed
• declined
• disclaimed
• repudiated
• disowned
• spurned

3

as in employed

to provide with a paying job

her neighbor retained her as a nanny for the summer, thus giving her something to do until school started again

Synonyms & Similar Words

• employed
• hired
• recruited
• engaged
• placed
• paid
• signed (up or on)
• assumed
• enlisted
• laid on
• feed
• took on
• rehired
• reemployed
• contracted
• promoted
• partnered
• subcontracted
• reengaged
• upgraded
• jobbed
• apprenticed
• kept (on)
• scouted
• advanced
• headhunted

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• dismissed
• discharged
• fired
• canned
• sacked
• laid off
• axed
• locked out
• furloughed

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of retained

Adjective

No Kansas justice has ever been non-retained. — Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 3 June 2026

Verb

Slattery will play James Leavitt, a highly experienced and formidable defense lawyer retained by City Hall to counter Jason’s class-action lawsuit. — Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 26 Aug. 2026

However, the Venezuelan native still faces deportation and has retained an attorney. — Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026

The current seller has retained much of the original design while presenting the penthouse as a potential canvas for renovation, according to the Christie’s representative. — David Caraccio, Sacbee.com, 26 Aug. 2026

The board retained the high profile law firm Fried Frank, which had represented Lutnick's companies before, to assist Newmark in its search. — Noah Shachtman, Vanity Fair, 25 Aug. 2026

In April, The Athletic reported that United still retained an interest in the midfielder. — Carl Anka, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026

The search for the next leader of the Chicago Police Department entered a new phase last week as the city agency responsible for vetting candidates retained an executive search firm to winnow down future applicants. — Sam Charles, Chicago Tribune, 24 Aug. 2026

The move is not being billed as permanent, and Harry and Meghan have retained their Montecito, California home, as well as a vacation home in Portugal. — Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 24 Aug. 2026

The portal includes how long data is retained, how many vehicles have been tracked — currently 319,265 — and the number of LPRs. — Charlotte Observer, 24 Aug. 2026