as in withdrawn
not comfortable around people
one retiring young girl was sitting alone quietly in a corner during the party
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 12 May 2026
While the San Francisco 49ers rookies practiced Friday, Williams was busy on the far north side of the field, doing side-to-side movements and working with resistance bands for 35 minutes before retiring to the team’s weight room.
—Matt Barrows, New York Times, 11 May 2026
After retiring, Cárdenas wrote for the Astros’ Spanish-language website and for La Prensa, a Nicaraguan newspaper.
—ABC News, 11 May 2026
In 2020, five years after retiring from the ADL, Foxman did what once was unthinkable to him.
—Ron Kampeas, Sun Sentinel, 11 May 2026
After retiring, Cárdenas wrote for the Astros' Spanish-language website and for La Prensa, a Nicaraguan newspaper.
—CBS News, 11 May 2026
Since retiring in 2022, she's been an outspoken advocate for mothers in professional sports and beyond.
—Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 28 Apr. 2026
Detmers was breezing at that point, retiring all nine Royals hitters in the first three innings, on just 41 pitches.
—Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 27 Apr. 2026
The Hall of Fame running back, 56, played in the NFL for 15 seasons, won three Super Bowls with the Dallas Cowboys and broke several records before retiring in 2004.
—Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 27 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
The plan also describes major changes to the fleet, such as adding many autonomous ships, buying new submarines, and retiring older aircraft carriers and submarines.
—Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 12 May 2026
While the San Francisco 49ers rookies practiced Friday, Williams was busy on the far north side of the field, doing side-to-side movements and working with resistance bands for 35 minutes before retiring to the team’s weight room.
—Matt Barrows, New York Times, 11 May 2026
After retiring, Cárdenas wrote for the Astros’ Spanish-language website and for La Prensa, a Nicaraguan newspaper.
—ABC News, 11 May 2026
In 2020, five years after retiring from the ADL, Foxman did what once was unthinkable to him.
—Ron Kampeas, Sun Sentinel, 11 May 2026
After retiring, Cárdenas wrote for the Astros' Spanish-language website and for La Prensa, a Nicaraguan newspaper.
—CBS News, 11 May 2026
Since retiring in 2022, she's been an outspoken advocate for mothers in professional sports and beyond.
—Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 28 Apr. 2026
Detmers was breezing at that point, retiring all nine Royals hitters in the first three innings, on just 41 pitches.
—Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 27 Apr. 2026
The Hall of Fame running back, 56, played in the NFL for 15 seasons, won three Super Bowls with the Dallas Cowboys and broke several records before retiring in 2004.
—Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 27 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for retiring
Adjective
-
The typically quiet, withdrawn student seemed more engaged in his first-period class than usual, English teacher Sarah Murer told investigators.—
Shelly Bradbury,
Denver Post,
1 May 2026
-
The withdrawn draft focused on setting up several new watchdogs to keep AI in check, including a dedicated commission and a special insurance fund to help people if the new technology caused harm.—
Tiisetso Motsoeneng,
semafor.com,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Harvey Vaile had commissioned the house for his wife but never finished settling in, abandoning designs for the top floor after Sophia Vaile fatally overdosed on laudanum while Harvey was on trial.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
8 May 2026
-
Sardinian bandits sometimes fought back with their own sense of justice, settling matters through raids, kidnappings, and violence.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
7 May 2026
Verb
-
But so far the government has decided not to intervene by sacking him and backpedalling on allowing Russia to participate.—
Nick Vivarelli,
Variety,
6 May 2026
-
Any hope that Liam Rosenior’s sacking 12 days ago would spark an upturn, especially after their FA Cup semi-final victory over Leeds United, have been brought back to reality.—
Simon Johnson,
New York Times,
4 May 2026
Verb
-
Trump has also floated the possibility of withdrawing from NATO and threatened to pull troops from Germany, Italy, and Spain.—
Tiago Ventura,
Time,
8 May 2026
-
Trump’s Gaza plan, which Israel and Hamas agreed to in October, involves Israeli troops withdrawing from Gaza and reconstruction starting as Hamas lays down its weapons.—
Reuters,
NBC news,
7 May 2026
Adjective
-
For reference, Palisades fire survivors expect to pay around $800 per square foot to rebuild, while Eaton fire survivors expect to pay just shy of $600.—
Noah Haggerty,
Los Angeles Times,
7 May 2026
-
Completing the triptych is the story of yet another student in 1972, the shy Hannes (Enzo Brumm), who hopes to study poetry but is soon taken with the lovely Gundula (Marlene Burow), who is researching the neural responses of the geranium on her windowsill.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
6 May 2026
Verb
-
Pricing varies dramatically depending on accommodation type, from sleeping-bag spaces to luxury suites.—
Lauren Schuster,
Charlotte Observer,
11 May 2026
-
Most of the rest are up for adoption, including two 1-year-old Göttingen minipigs — named Barrigan and Mulligan — sleeping near Amber and who were sent to the network by a Kansas City area testing lab after being used in research.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
10 May 2026
Verb
-
Bangladesh was bowled out for 413 in its first innings, before taking a 27-run lead, dismissing Pakistan for 386 with offspinner Mehidy Hasan taking five wickets.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
12 May 2026
-
On Friday, Makary was privately dismissing the reports of his imminent ouster as false, those people said.—
Sarah Owermohle,
CNN Money,
8 May 2026
Verb
-
That deadlock prompted an unusually long recess of nearly 90 minutes that was followed by a 6-0 vote in favor of retreating on the bus stops.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
9 May 2026
-
Many of them have been linked to retreating glaciers, as melting ice destabilizes the mountains and land that had been covered for centuries.—
Ella Nilsen,
CNN Money,
6 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Retiring.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/retiring. Accessed 13 May. 2026.
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