as in withdrawing
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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Recent Examples of retracting
Swelling around your eyes may suggest an underactive thyroid, while retracting eyelids may signal an overactive thyroid.
—
Brandi Jones, Health, 28 Apr. 2026
Self-retracting nozzles are the most hygienic.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 13 Apr. 2026
The ruthlessness of the producers cutting folk off mid-speech or retracting the microphone and upping the music volume was belittling to those on stage.
—Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 16 Mar. 2026
The actress has no interest in retracting her comments.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Mar. 2026
Her delicate proto-shell dangles below, her tiny sails and blossoming eyes retracting at the scent of predators.
—Literary Hub, 23 Feb. 2026
With retracting landing gear and a striking look, too, this set is ideal for young ones with plenty of imagination.
—Alexander Cox, Space.com, 13 Feb. 2026
School public safety had initially reported that a suspect had been taken into custody before retracting that statement.
—Kierra Frazier, CBS News, 13 Dec. 2025
This series of exemptions is part of EPA’s suite of PFAS de-regulation that includes approving PFAS-laden pesticides and retracting some of its maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) that were the result of years of careful research and policymaking.
—Jasmine Laws, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Nov. 2025
Brandi Jones, Health, 28 Apr. 2026
Self-retracting nozzles are the most hygienic.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 13 Apr. 2026
The ruthlessness of the producers cutting folk off mid-speech or retracting the microphone and upping the music volume was belittling to those on stage.
—Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 16 Mar. 2026
The actress has no interest in retracting her comments.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Mar. 2026
Her delicate proto-shell dangles below, her tiny sails and blossoming eyes retracting at the scent of predators.
—Literary Hub, 23 Feb. 2026
With retracting landing gear and a striking look, too, this set is ideal for young ones with plenty of imagination.
—Alexander Cox, Space.com, 13 Feb. 2026
School public safety had initially reported that a suspect had been taken into custody before retracting that statement.
—Kierra Frazier, CBS News, 13 Dec. 2025
This series of exemptions is part of EPA’s suite of PFAS de-regulation that includes approving PFAS-laden pesticides and retracting some of its maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) that were the result of years of careful research and policymaking.
—Jasmine Laws, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for retracting
Verb
-
The Cabinet discussed—and George III supported—withdrawing from the coastal colonies entirely in favor of the Caribbean.—
Daniel Immerwahr,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
-
Two top Republican lawmakers expressed concern about the Pentagon withdrawing 5,000 troops from Germany.—
Kayla Hayempour,
NBC news,
4 May 2026
Verb
-
The program calls for the recognition of Israel and renouncing armed struggle, effectively sidelining Hamas and other factions.—
SAM METZ,
Arkansas Online,
26 Apr. 2026
-
The program calls for the recognition of Israel and renouncing armed struggle, effectively sidelining Hamas and other factions.—
Sam Metz,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
In Uthmeier’s mind, the world is unfairly denying white men careers as head coaches and coffeehouse baristas.—
Scott Maxwell,
Sun Sentinel,
9 May 2026
-
In effectively denying the zoning measures sought by the county, the planning board on Wednesday reversed course on a previous 2018 approval by the same body, though with some different members, of essentially the same county plan.—
Andres Viglucci,
Miami Herald,
8 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Retracting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/retracting. Accessed 10 May. 2026.
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