Synonyms of retire

retire

verb

ri-ˈtī(-ə)r 

1

as in to bed

to go to one's bed in order to sleep

I'm exhausted, so I think I'll retire for the evening

Synonyms & Similar Words

• bed
• settle
• sleep
• turn in
• nap
• crash
• hit the hay
• roost
• bunk
• doss (down)
• drop off
• perch
• nod
• doze
• lie (down)
• couch
• slumber
• snooze
• recline

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• rise
• arise
• get up
• wake
• awaken
• awake
• waken
• rouse
• stir
• arouse
• uprise
• shift
• bestir
• reawaken
• reawake

2

as in to sack

to let go from office, service, or employment

as a part of its restructuring, the company has begun to retire its older employees

Synonyms & Similar Words

• sack
• dismiss
• remove
• fire
• release
• can
• terminate
• ax
• discharge
• pink-slip
• downsize
• turn off
• muster out
• send packing
• show (someone) the door
• bounce
• lay off
• cashier
• excess
• furlough
• kick out
• trim
• unseat
• throw out
• chuck (out)
• drum (out)
• boot (out)
• separate

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• employ
• hire
• retain
• engage
• keep
• take on
• sign (up or on)
• rehire
• contract
• reemploy
• recruit
• subcontract

3

as in to withdraw

to move back or away (as from something difficult, dangerous, or disagreeable)

the insurgents have retired to the outskirts of the city, but appear to be readying themselves for another offensive

Synonyms & Similar Words

• withdraw
• retreat
• flee
• recede
• fall back
• pull out
• evacuate
• give way
• drop back
• lose ground
• back away
• fly
• leave
• give ground
• go
• shrink
• depart
• vacate
• detach
• flinch
• recoil
• quit
• abandon
• disengage
• chicken (out)
• pull away
• climb down
• back down
• backtrack
• bow out
• disentangle
• backpedal

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• advance
• dare
• confront
• face
• breast
• beard
• defy
• brave
• outbrave
• brazen

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of retire

After retiring in 2016 with 409 career home runs, Teixeira returned to Texas and announced his candidacy for the 21st Congressional District a year ago. — Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2026

Hreljanovic, now 79, spent most of his career in other businesses and is now retired. — Gene Maddaus, Variety, 3 Nov. 2026

Voyager builds space infrastructure for the Pentagon and defense contractors, and is working on a commercial space station, Starlab, to replace the International Space Station when it is retired in 2030. — Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 3 Nov. 2026

Filter worked the Harpeth River Jane Doe case as a detective before retiring from the MNPD in December 2025. — Sarah Dahlberg, NBC news, 3 Nov. 2026

Phrases Containing retire

• retire (from)