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

Once a private mansion belonging to art collectors Édouard André and his wife Nélie Jacquemart, the museum dates from the late 19th century, and its café has retained much of the original residence’s grandeur. — Amy Bradford, Architectural Digest, 5 Aug. 2026

For complicated legal reasons, Sony has retained distribution rights to Spider-Man even though the film franchise is produced by Disney’s Marvel Studios. — Dade Hayes, Deadline, 5 Aug. 2026

Some existing amenities, like the regulation tennis court, will be retained—and a trendy padel court is being considered—but the project is still in its infancy. — Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 5 Aug. 2026

Volatility also improves the economics of techniques such as grantor retained annuity trusts, which are specifically designed to transfer future appreciation with minimal gift-tax cost. — Anastasia Atamanchuk, Fortune, 5 Aug. 2026

While Eugenie and her sister Princess Beatrice have retained their royal titles and their places in the line of succession, neither is a full-time working royal. — ABC News, 4 Aug. 2026

At a July 30 news conference, Crump said the legal team had obtained the full audio recording of a distress call made from the boat Wells reportedly traveled on and retained experts to analyze it. — Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 4 Aug. 2026

The look was styled by Jason Bolden and retained some of the key elements seen on the runway. — Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 30 July 2026

Its edges were firm and springy, while the insides retained tofu’s iconic squish. — Ali Francis, Bon Appetit Magazine, 29 July 2026