as in withdrew
to solemnly or formally reject or go back on (as something formerly adhered to)
the newspaper was forced to retract the story, which turned out to be based on fabricated reporting
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as in revoked
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Recent Examples of retracted
New Atlas, 24 Sep. 2025
In 2021, Sala's work came under scrutiny for a retracted study that used flawed data.
—Elisabeth Brier, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
The threat of retracted benefits, too, is a sticking point.
—Katie Kilkenny, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Emily Krauser, PEOPLE, 21 Oct. 2025
The grounds crews can work on the grass sections in tight quarters underneath the concourses and get grow lamps on them even when they’re retracted.
—Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 13 Oct. 2025
The woman filed a human resources complaint against him but retracted it days later out of fear of retaliation, three officials told Politico.
—Lillian Rizzo, CNBC, 10 Oct. 2025
The network retracted the story after it was found that documents used in the piece could not be authenticated.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 9 Oct. 2025
Watkins later retracted her statements after she was sensationalized by the media.
—Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 6 Oct. 2025
The prominent medical publisher BMJ Group has retracted a study that found apple cider vinegar could help people achieve dramatic weight loss.
—Jon Hamilton, NPR, 5 Oct. 2025
Its active rear wing, for example, remains fully retracted when on a straightaway, reducing drag and maximizing acceleration.
—Stephen Treffinger, Robb Report, 5 Oct. 2025
Many local affiliates declined to air last night’s show, even though Kimmel retracted his earlier remarks.
—Diane Brady, Fortune, 24 Sep. 2025
Verb
Nonetheless, the global ACV market is now valued at more than US$1 billion (2023-2024) and continues to grow – something that one retracted study is unlikely to impact.
—New Atlas, 24 Sep. 2025
In 2021, Sala's work came under scrutiny for a retracted study that used flawed data.
—Elisabeth Brier, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
The threat of retracted benefits, too, is a sticking point.
—Katie Kilkenny, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Adjective
The newborn’s middle name was later retracted.
—Emily Krauser, PEOPLE, 21 Oct. 2025
The grounds crews can work on the grass sections in tight quarters underneath the concourses and get grow lamps on them even when they’re retracted.
—Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 13 Oct. 2025
The woman filed a human resources complaint against him but retracted it days later out of fear of retaliation, three officials told Politico.
—Lillian Rizzo, CNBC, 10 Oct. 2025
The network retracted the story after it was found that documents used in the piece could not be authenticated.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 9 Oct. 2025
Watkins later retracted her statements after she was sensationalized by the media.
—Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 6 Oct. 2025
The prominent medical publisher BMJ Group has retracted a study that found apple cider vinegar could help people achieve dramatic weight loss.
—Jon Hamilton, NPR, 5 Oct. 2025
Its active rear wing, for example, remains fully retracted when on a straightaway, reducing drag and maximizing acceleration.
—Stephen Treffinger, Robb Report, 5 Oct. 2025
Many local affiliates declined to air last night’s show, even though Kimmel retracted his earlier remarks.
—Diane Brady, Fortune, 24 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for retracted
Verb
-
The fighting between the two countries in recent weeks marks the deadliest escalation since the US withdrew from Afghanistan in 2021, and could signal a new period of instability for the once-friendly neighbors.—
Lex Harvey,
CNN Money,
19 Oct. 2025
-
Afghanistan withdrew from a Twenty20 international tri-series in Pakistan following the deaths of three local cricketers, which the Afghanistan Cricket Board attributed to military strikes in Paktika province.—
Adeola Adeosun,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Royalist émigrés began to trickle back into the country in 1795, and a number of Jacobins who renounced their earlier radicalism were also reintegrated into civil society.—
Time,
Time,
21 Oct. 2025
-
Takaichi has called for a hardline stance towards China and is also in favor of revising Japan’s pacifist constitution, especially Article 9, which renounced Japan’s right to wage war.—
Lim Hui Jie,
CNBC,
10 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The withheld funding supports election monitoring, independent media and other pro-democracy programs abroad.—
Robert Alexander,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
The 29-year-old denied former Arsenal striker Folarin Balogun three times in the first half.—
Elias Burke,
New York Times,
23 Oct. 2025
-
David denied the allegations at the time.—
Lauryn Overhultz,
FOXNews.com,
22 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Too long submerged in suppressed grief, Zilpha now came up from its depth like any swimmer stroking toward light and sweet air.—
Annie Proulx,
New Yorker,
10 Aug. 2025
Verb
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That is, even the Pew study contradicted the claims people were making about wealthier moms being the most miserable and stressed.—
Stephanie H. Murray,
The Atlantic,
21 Oct. 2025
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According to a press statement, the team behind the study found that their engine often contradicted the basic laws of thermodynamics.—
Chris Young,
Interesting Engineering,
20 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The two who confessed – and later recanted – were convicted of capital murder and remained in prison until DNA evidence proving their innocence led to their release in 2009, prosecutors said.—
Jean Casarez,
CNN Money,
5 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The couple has publicly refuted those claims, affirming the authenticity of their partnership.—
Amanda Castro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 Oct. 2025
-
When rumors flew in the colonies that Franklin had personally designed the Stamp Act, William refuted the charges.—
Stacy Schiff,
The Atlantic,
8 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Retracted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/retracted. Accessed 26 Oct. 2025.
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