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

Please retire from writing and do something better with your life. — Joe Kinsey Outkick, FOXNews.com, 28 Oct. 2026

On Wednesday, the team announced that CEO Rick Welts will retire, with current president Ethan Casson set to succeed him. — Matthew Ablon, CBS News, 28 Oct. 2026

He’s homed in on Risch’s age in campaign ads and put up billboards that wished his opponent a happy 83rd birthday — and urged him to retire. — Sarah Cutler, Idaho Statesman, 27 Oct. 2026

As SpaceX shifts focus to its larger, more powerful Starship rocket under development, plans to retire Falcon 9 have already begun. — Josh Dinner, Space.com, 27 Oct. 2026

Phrases Containing retire

• retire (from)