as in withdraws
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 retracts
When the car switches into self-driving mode, the steering wheel retracts smoothly into the dashboard, opening up the cabin and giving occupants more space to relax, work or just stretch out.
—
Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 9 Jan. 2026
There's even an optional powered roof panel that retracts at the touch of a button.
—Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 22 Nov. 2025
OpenAI researcher retracts announcement of math breakthrough.
—Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2025
The black softop retracts and returns tightly into place with a lever mechanism on the console.
—James Raia, Mercury News, 28 Sep. 2025
Stowaways often get crushed when the landing gear retracts, as there’s not much room; in many aircraft, the space is even smaller than the trunk of a car.
—Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 23 Sep. 2025
Visible from the kitchen, where a kinetic window retracts upward with the turn of a wheel, the white angular piece pairs with the white upholstery on the patio lounge chairs and presents a moment of contrast against the nearby forest.
—Rachel Gallaher, Robb Report, 21 Sep. 2025
Once at the top or bottom, the Marswalker retracts the bracers and opens its doors again so that the S2 can be on its way while the Marswalker waits for the return trip.
—PC Magazine, 4 Sep. 2025
Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 9 Jan. 2026
There's even an optional powered roof panel that retracts at the touch of a button.
—Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 22 Nov. 2025
OpenAI researcher retracts announcement of math breakthrough.
—Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2025
The black softop retracts and returns tightly into place with a lever mechanism on the console.
—James Raia, Mercury News, 28 Sep. 2025
Stowaways often get crushed when the landing gear retracts, as there’s not much room; in many aircraft, the space is even smaller than the trunk of a car.
—Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 23 Sep. 2025
Visible from the kitchen, where a kinetic window retracts upward with the turn of a wheel, the white angular piece pairs with the white upholstery on the patio lounge chairs and presents a moment of contrast against the nearby forest.
—Rachel Gallaher, Robb Report, 21 Sep. 2025
Once at the top or bottom, the Marswalker retracts the bracers and opens its doors again so that the S2 can be on its way while the Marswalker waits for the return trip.
—PC Magazine, 4 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for retracts
Verb
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While Block is in the fourth grade, after his family moves from Indiana to Texas, his mother withdraws him from school, convinced that a traditional academic environment will stifle his budding writerly gifts.—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
12 Jan. 2026
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Haru and Luis love competing in Tokyo’s ballroom dance scene, but after tragedy strikes, Haru withdraws into isolation.—
Peter Debruge,
Variety,
10 Dec. 2025
Verb
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She’s also supported revising Japan’s pacifist constitution, particularly Article 9, which renounces war and bans military forces.—
Hanako Montgomery,
CNN Money,
11 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The federal determination highlights how permitting males to compete on female teams displaces female athletes from podiums, denies them advancement opportunities, and diminishes their visibility and recognition in competitions.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
16 Jan. 2026
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Verse’s desk is in front of Young’s in the room, and one day when Verse leaned back his hood allegedly dragged across Young’s desktop, an accusation that Verse still denies.—
Adam Grosbard,
Oc Register,
15 Jan. 2026
Verb
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But in almost every case, federal authorities justify the agent's actions by claiming the car was being used as a weapon, or the agent's life was in danger, even when evidence contradicts those claims.—
Richard Hall,
Time,
12 Jan. 2026
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Their finding contradicts the Hall–Petch law, which predicts that metals become stronger as their internal grain size decreases.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
12 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Retracts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/retracts. Accessed 20 Jan. 2026.
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