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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of retire
Busillo, who has been the Sheehan coach for 20 years, will retire from coaching when the season is over.
—
Lori Riley, Hartford Courant, 17 Feb. 2026
Liu is the reigning world and Grand Prix champion who returned to figure skating after retiring at 16, just after the 2022 Games.
—Sara Germano, Sportico.com, 17 Feb. 2026
Trump nominated Brett Kavanaugh to replace retiring Justice Anthony Kennedy in 2018.
—Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 17 Feb. 2026
Harf retired as managing partner at JAB last August, and in December left as chairman of Coty.
—Kathryn Hopkins, Footwear News, 17 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for retire
Lori Riley, Hartford Courant, 17 Feb. 2026
Liu is the reigning world and Grand Prix champion who returned to figure skating after retiring at 16, just after the 2022 Games.
—Sara Germano, Sportico.com, 17 Feb. 2026
Trump nominated Brett Kavanaugh to replace retiring Justice Anthony Kennedy in 2018.
—Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 17 Feb. 2026
Harf retired as managing partner at JAB last August, and in December left as chairman of Coty.
—Kathryn Hopkins, Footwear News, 17 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for retire
Recent Examples of Synonyms for retire
Verb
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Palassio Cotton Quilt Bedding Set Several Southern shoppers praise the quality and feel of this bedding set—and for good reason.—
Alicia Geigel,
Southern Living,
20 Feb. 2026
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The award for the best pillow for side sleepers goes to our longtime friend in bedding, Parachute, with this boxy down pillow.—
Kate McGregor,
Architectural Digest,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Lawrence was sacked five times but hardly seemed to notice, throwing for 279 yards and three touchdowns and rushing for another.—
Parker Gabriel,
Denver Post,
15 Feb. 2026
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Frank was sacked on Wednesday and is expected to be replaced on an interim basis by Igor Tudor.—
David Ornstein,
New York Times,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
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However, that petition was later withdrawn in 2025, the complaint said.—
Jeanine Santucci,
USA Today,
13 Feb. 2026
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China has invested little in Russia’s economy, and nowhere near the amount that the West withdrew after Putin’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.—
Alan Cullison,
The Atlantic,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The Trojans eventually settled in on offense, but their stifling defense would have to lead the way throughout.—
Ryan Kartje,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Feb. 2026
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The former duchess reportedly owed Johnny O’Sullivan a little under £100,000, which Epstein helped her settle after her bankruptcy in 2010.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Marty Singer, attorney for the spouses at the time, dismissed the controversy.—
Alexandra Del Rosario,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Feb. 2026
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Yesterday, Judge Aran Subramanian dismissed some portions of the suit but allowed other claims to proceed in the DOJ’s efforts to break up Live Nation and Ticketmaster.—
Steven J. Horowitz,
Variety,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Totality ends and the umbra gradually retreats across the lunar surface.—
Ryan Brennan,
Kansas City Star,
19 Feb. 2026
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Totality ends and the process reverses, with the umbra gradually retreating across the lunar surface.—
Ryan Brennan,
Miami Herald,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Even plastic bags get woven into sleeping mats for residents who may be sleeping outside or don’t have a bed.—
Taylor O'Connor,
Kansas City Star,
13 Feb. 2026
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After five days in frigid federal holding cells — where the family says the children slept under foil blankets on thin mats — they were transferred to Dilley, expecting to wait there for a couple weeks at most.—
Mike Hixenbaugh,
NBC news,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The trooper then removed Jackson from the vehicle.—
arkansasonline.com,
arkansasonline.com,
17 Feb. 2026
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Jailbreaking in this context refers to a process that removes software restrictions placed on a piece of hardware.—
Chris Young,
Interesting Engineering,
17 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Retire.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/retire. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
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