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
Katie Kilkenny, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Jessie Opoien, jsonline.com, 11 Sep. 2025
The Times said the report was ultimately retracted to protect Grenell, which is frequently done to preserve the identity of Americans in intelligence reports.
—Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 9 Sep. 2025
An examination of the plane after impact revealed the landing gear down and flaps retracted, according to the preliminary report.
—Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 9 Sep. 2025
On August 4, the situation culminated when the National Assembly officially retracted feudal rights.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 27 Aug. 2025
Even with the soft-top retracted, the Cabrio has a beautifully chic side profile.
—Peter Nelson, Forbes.com, 25 Aug. 2025
The network retracted some of the more bombastic allegations in December 2020.
—Nicholas Riccardi, Fortune, 18 Aug. 2025
If a school bus extends its stop sign on a two-lane road, all vehicles must come to a stop until the stop sign is retracted.
—Clifford Ward, Chicago Tribune, 15 Aug. 2025
The woman has retracted her allegations.
—Lauren Peller, ABC News, 7 Aug. 2025
Verb
The threat of retracted benefits, too, is a sticking point.
—Katie Kilkenny, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Adjective
The proposal, which has been enacted in Utah, Virginia and Washington, would allow a person to place themselves on the list for at least a year — a decision that could be renewed or retracted after a 48-hour waiting period.
—Jessie Opoien, jsonline.com, 11 Sep. 2025
The Times said the report was ultimately retracted to protect Grenell, which is frequently done to preserve the identity of Americans in intelligence reports.
—Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 9 Sep. 2025
An examination of the plane after impact revealed the landing gear down and flaps retracted, according to the preliminary report.
—Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 9 Sep. 2025
On August 4, the situation culminated when the National Assembly officially retracted feudal rights.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 27 Aug. 2025
Even with the soft-top retracted, the Cabrio has a beautifully chic side profile.
—Peter Nelson, Forbes.com, 25 Aug. 2025
The network retracted some of the more bombastic allegations in December 2020.
—Nicholas Riccardi, Fortune, 18 Aug. 2025
If a school bus extends its stop sign on a two-lane road, all vehicles must come to a stop until the stop sign is retracted.
—Clifford Ward, Chicago Tribune, 15 Aug. 2025
The woman has retracted her allegations.
—Lauren Peller, ABC News, 7 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for retracted
Verb
-
The shake-up came a week after the Ultra-Orthodox parties United Torah Judaism and Shas withdrew from the coalition in protest over the failure to pass legislation exempting Haredi men from military service.—
Amelie Botbol,
FOXNews.com,
14 Sep. 2025
-
The Times/Siena poll suggested that if both Adams and Sliwa withdrew, Mamdani’s advantage over Cuomo could shrink even further.—
Philip Marcelo,
Fortune,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Advertisement Lee also renounced any concept of gender roles, longing for full social equality regardless of gender or race.—
Barry Levitt,
Time,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Beijing views Taiwan as its own territory and has never renounced the use of force to bring Taipei under its control.—
Jan Camenzind Broomby,
NPR,
5 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The withheld funding supports election monitoring, independent media and other pro-democracy programs abroad.—
Robert Alexander,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Her lawsuit denied the charges but did not provide more details.—
Sheryl Estrada,
Fortune,
10 Sep. 2025
-
The doctor spent more than 1,300 days incarcerated while repeatedly denied bail.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
10 Sep. 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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But this stereotype is contradicted by the research, which shows that coming from a low-income family actually increases the risk of developing these illnesses.—
Oona Hanson,
CNN Money,
16 Sep. 2025
-
Holmes likewise discredited the MS-13 accusation, for which prosecutors relied on the testimony of coöperating witnesses who either contradicted one another or were otherwise unreliable.—
Cristian Farias,
New Yorker,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
In a response to the allegations obtained by PEOPLE, Phypers refuted the claims made by Richards' lawyers.—
Stephanie Wenger,
PEOPLE,
9 Sep. 2025
-
Through reps, Marr refuted Mozz’s claims.—
Bethy Squires,
Vulture,
3 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Retracted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/retracted. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
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