as in withdrawn
to solemnly or formally reject or go back on (as something formerly adhered to)
I take back what I said about her: she's not the fool I thought she was
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Recent Examples of taken back
After letting go of a pitch on Monday afternoon during live batting practice, Pablo López was taken back in time.
—
Betsy Helfand, Twin Cities, 17 Feb. 2026
The teen had been released previously by Shaw, but was taken back into custody after violating the conditions set by the judge.
—Gabriella Ybarra, San Antonio Express-News, 12 Feb. 2026
Juan Pablo Guanipa, a prominent opposition leader, was freed Sunday from El Helicoide — only to be taken back into custody hours later.
—Carmen Sesin, NBC news, 11 Feb. 2026
In May 2025, the Signia by Hilton hotel, a 541-room lodging tower in downtown San Jose, was taken back by its lender through a foreclosure that valued the hotel at $80 million, or $147,900 a room.
—George Avalos, Mercury News, 10 Feb. 2026
Martinez's attorney sought a hearing to determine whether federal authorities improperly destroyed evidence in the cranial case against her by allowing the SUV to be taken back to Maine.
—Dave Savini, CBS News, 7 Jan. 2026
Whitfield didn’t know where this was going, but such a sincere mission, once proclaimed in the public square, cannot be easily taken back.
—Sarah Hepola, Dallas Morning News, 6 Jan. 2026
But the Reds have since taken back-to-back 2-1 losses against Crystal Palace and Chelsea.
—Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2025
Despite being initially taken back by the idea, Reeves came up with a few alternative name options.
—Mckinley Franklin, HollywoodReporter, 16 Oct. 2025
Betsy Helfand, Twin Cities, 17 Feb. 2026
The teen had been released previously by Shaw, but was taken back into custody after violating the conditions set by the judge.
—Gabriella Ybarra, San Antonio Express-News, 12 Feb. 2026
Juan Pablo Guanipa, a prominent opposition leader, was freed Sunday from El Helicoide — only to be taken back into custody hours later.
—Carmen Sesin, NBC news, 11 Feb. 2026
In May 2025, the Signia by Hilton hotel, a 541-room lodging tower in downtown San Jose, was taken back by its lender through a foreclosure that valued the hotel at $80 million, or $147,900 a room.
—George Avalos, Mercury News, 10 Feb. 2026
Martinez's attorney sought a hearing to determine whether federal authorities improperly destroyed evidence in the cranial case against her by allowing the SUV to be taken back to Maine.
—Dave Savini, CBS News, 7 Jan. 2026
Whitfield didn’t know where this was going, but such a sincere mission, once proclaimed in the public square, cannot be easily taken back.
—Sarah Hepola, Dallas Morning News, 6 Jan. 2026
But the Reds have since taken back-to-back 2-1 losses against Crystal Palace and Chelsea.
—Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2025
Despite being initially taken back by the idea, Reeves came up with a few alternative name options.
—Mckinley Franklin, HollywoodReporter, 16 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for taken back
Verb
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Honus Wagner, the Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop — who is considered one of the greatest baseball players of all time — disliked that his image was being used to entice kids to try tobacco, and so asked that his card be withdrawn, leading to its scarcity, and legend.—
Marin Independent Journal,
Mercury News,
25 Feb. 2026
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When Epstein fulfilled his objection to plead guilty in state court pursuant to his non-prosecution agreement, the grand jury subpoena was withdrawn.—
James Hill,
ABC News,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Gaetano Milano, a sharpshooting young gangster who renounced the mafia and experienced a religious rebirth after gunning down one of New England’s most ruthless mob bosses, died early this week.—
Edmund H. Mahony,
Hartford Courant,
12 Feb. 2026
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Born rich, yet sought a life of poverty Born into a merchant family in the Umbrian town of Assisi, in present-day Italy, around 1181, Francis famously renounced his family’s wealth.—
Vanessa Corcoran,
The Conversation,
2 Feb. 2026
Verb
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While the 2024 ruling has been repealed, coal plants will still be held to 2012 standards, which placed emission limits for mercury, acid gases, and other toxic pollution from power plants.—
Simmone Shah,
Time,
20 Feb. 2026
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If it is repealed, the government loses one of its strongest tools to reduce the pollution driving stronger hurricanes, extreme heat and rising costs.—
Yoca Arditi-Rocha,
The Orlando Sentinel,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
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All suspects had denied any connection with the councilwoman's killing.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
26 Feb. 2026
-
Uthmeier has denied wrongdoing and claimed victory in defeating the amendments.—
Alexandra Glorioso,
Miami Herald,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The strongback support has retracted for launch.—
Josh Dinner,
Space.com,
14 Feb. 2026
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Warsama traces the issue back more than a decade, when discredited researcher Andrew Wakefield published his study — since retracted — claiming a link between autism and the MMR vaccine.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
6 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Taken back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/taken%20back. Accessed 1 Mar. 2026.
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