as in withdrawn
not comfortable around people
one retiring young girl was sitting alone quietly in a corner during the party
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in settling
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in sacking
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in withdrawing
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of retiring
Daily News Staff, New York Daily News, 26 May 2025
After running more than 400 games, the researchers concluded that a fully passive style of scavenging – snatching some carrion when no one is looking – was too retiring and less than ideal.
—Matt Hrodey, Discover Magazine, 4 Oct. 2023
Austen’s most retiring and internal heroine, spends much of the movie chatting to the camera, even giving sarcastic glances and eye rolls in the middle of the action.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 15 July 2022
So a more retiring co-parent certainly can be, say, the homework explainer and behind-the-scenes calendar keeper while the more outgoing parent takes meetings and makes phone calls – absolutely.
—Carolyn Hax, Detroit Free Press, 15 May 2018
In part, that's because Hemsley is probably the most retiring, publicity-adverse CEO heading an iconic company.
—Shawn Tully, Fortune, 18 Aug. 2017
Audrey Pachuta, Chicago Tribune, 21 Apr. 2026
Jordan Leasure entered and threw a wild pitch to score Gelof and make it 7-4 before retiring Jacob Wilson on a foul popup.
—CBS News, 20 Apr. 2026
Suarez wound up retiring nine straight batters after that replay overturn, and 22 of the next 23 between the first and eighth innings.
—Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 18 Apr. 2026
Their late-season surge was fueled by veteran acquisitions, surprising breakout performances, and the team’s collective desire to give retiring captain Anze Kopitar one final push in his last season.
—Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2026
Anderson played the last two seasons of his career with the Atlanta Braves and Dodgers before retiring after the 2010 season.
—Oc Register, 17 Apr. 2026
The tournament will pay tribute to French veteran Gaël Monfils and 2015 champion Stan Wawrinka, who are retiring at the end of the season.
—ABC News, 16 Apr. 2026
More In 2018, Xcel Energy was the first energy company to commit to being 100% carbon free, with plans to build up wind, geothermal, solar, and storage while retiring its coal plants.
—Steve Gelsi, semafor.com, 14 Apr. 2026
Bass stepped away from a full-time teaching job at Queens College at the end of the 2024–25 academic year to focus on her art practice, and Sholette, also an artist and professor at Queens College, is soon retiring from teaching.
—Maximilíano Durón, ARTnews.com, 14 Apr. 2026
Adjective
Rangel, a mustachioed, natty dresser rarely seen with a hair out of place, hardly had a reputation for a shy and retiring personality.
—Daily News Staff, New York Daily News, 26 May 2025
After running more than 400 games, the researchers concluded that a fully passive style of scavenging – snatching some carrion when no one is looking – was too retiring and less than ideal.
—Matt Hrodey, Discover Magazine, 4 Oct. 2023
Austen’s most retiring and internal heroine, spends much of the movie chatting to the camera, even giving sarcastic glances and eye rolls in the middle of the action.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 15 July 2022
So a more retiring co-parent certainly can be, say, the homework explainer and behind-the-scenes calendar keeper while the more outgoing parent takes meetings and makes phone calls – absolutely.
—Carolyn Hax, Detroit Free Press, 15 May 2018
In part, that's because Hemsley is probably the most retiring, publicity-adverse CEO heading an iconic company.
—Shawn Tully, Fortune, 18 Aug. 2017
Verb
Topal is considering retiring this year.
—Audrey Pachuta, Chicago Tribune, 21 Apr. 2026
Jordan Leasure entered and threw a wild pitch to score Gelof and make it 7-4 before retiring Jacob Wilson on a foul popup.
—CBS News, 20 Apr. 2026
Suarez wound up retiring nine straight batters after that replay overturn, and 22 of the next 23 between the first and eighth innings.
—Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 18 Apr. 2026
Their late-season surge was fueled by veteran acquisitions, surprising breakout performances, and the team’s collective desire to give retiring captain Anze Kopitar one final push in his last season.
—Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2026
Anderson played the last two seasons of his career with the Atlanta Braves and Dodgers before retiring after the 2010 season.
—Oc Register, 17 Apr. 2026
The tournament will pay tribute to French veteran Gaël Monfils and 2015 champion Stan Wawrinka, who are retiring at the end of the season.
—ABC News, 16 Apr. 2026
More In 2018, Xcel Energy was the first energy company to commit to being 100% carbon free, with plans to build up wind, geothermal, solar, and storage while retiring its coal plants.
—Steve Gelsi, semafor.com, 14 Apr. 2026
Bass stepped away from a full-time teaching job at Queens College at the end of the 2024–25 academic year to focus on her art practice, and Sholette, also an artist and professor at Queens College, is soon retiring from teaching.
—Maximilíano Durón, ARTnews.com, 14 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for retiring
Adjective
-
Parents report that many children stop eating, lose weight and become withdrawn.—
Mike Hixenbaugh,
NBC news,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Along the way, Babilonia matured from the shy withdrawn child who refused to hold a boy’s hand into a bold, strong and confident woman.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
While this doesn't erase the debt instantly, settling for less than the full balance can stop further collection efforts and, in some cases, prevent legal action.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Shopping for designer shoes on sale doesn’t have to mean scouring the internet for vintage and secondhand styles, or settling for designs that are no longer in season.—
Jessie Quinn,
StyleCaster,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Downing Street moved swiftly late on Thursday to try to quash the scandal, sacking the Foreign Office’s top official, Olly Robbins.—
Reuters,
CNN Money,
16 Apr. 2026
-
The confrontation went viral in December 2024, as cameras captured Gastineau confronting Favre in 2023 over Michael Strahan sacking the Green Bay Packers legend to break Gastineau's single-season sack record.—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Slovenia began preemptively withdrawing all HiPP products from shelves of Spar and other supermarkets, its health inspectorate said.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
20 Apr. 2026
-
After withdrawing their endorsement of Swalwell, the California Teacher’s Association put its support behind Steyer, a sure blow to Porter, who has also sought to win the support of unions.—
Douglas Schoen,
Oc Register,
17 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The evaluation puts dust events on par with natural disasters in terms of economic costs, eclipsing, for example, the 2017 wildfire season but shy of that year’s hurricane season, according to Irene Feng, the lead author of the 2024 study, who researched dust at the University of Texas at El Paso.—
Tony Briscoe,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Apr. 2026
-
This season, a much more settle Mbappé has left the quarterfinals again but as the leading scorer with 15, two shy of Cristiano's Ronaldo record of 17 in a single season.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Maintain local control, protect public spaces and stop criminalizing people for sleeping outside when no safe alternative exists.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
19 Apr. 2026
-
Premium and economy passengers will also still be required to purchase an actual seat, with these sleeping pods instead being available for an additional session fee of NZ$495 (about $280 per session).—
Emma Clarke,
Condé Nast Traveler,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
After vacating the conviction, the judge took the additional step of dismissing the murder charge against Martinez, ending the criminal case against him entirely.—
Shelly Bradbury,
Denver Post,
21 Apr. 2026
-
Before dismissing this activity or just trying to get through it, recognize your tendency to view nearly everything as a situation from which to extricate yourself as quickly and painlessly as possible.—
Charles Yu,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Glaciers all over the world -- especially in Antarctica -- are also retreating at a rapid pace, recent research shows.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
9 Apr. 2026
-
The alarmed father then began retreating while shouting for their daughter to drive away.—
Bonny Chu,
FOXNews.com,
9 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Retiring.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/retiring. Accessed 23 Apr. 2026.
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