as in to retract
to solemnly or formally reject or go back on (as something formerly adhered to)
the witness tried to unsay the very testimony that he had given a few days earlier
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Recent Examples of unsay
If the remark doesn't add value, it's better left unsaid.
—
John Bowe, CNBC, 28 Jan. 2026
Some words cannot be unsaid, some actions cannot be undone.
—Shruti Mutalik, Baltimore Sun, 7 Jan. 2026
Left unsaid is the history Matthews is on the verge of making.
—Jonas Siegel, New York Times, 2 Jan. 2026
Left unsaid was that Sanders has to win for the dollars to make sense for CU.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 30 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unsay
John Bowe, CNBC, 28 Jan. 2026
Some words cannot be unsaid, some actions cannot be undone.
—Shruti Mutalik, Baltimore Sun, 7 Jan. 2026
Left unsaid is the history Matthews is on the verge of making.
—Jonas Siegel, New York Times, 2 Jan. 2026
Left unsaid was that Sanders has to win for the dollars to make sense for CU.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 30 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unsay
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unsay
Verb
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The letter notes the post was later retracted, though not for a full day, and that the retraction itself repeated the original accusation.—
Kevin Dolak,
HollywoodReporter,
20 Mar. 2026
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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
Verb
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Macron urged Hezbollah to stop fighting and called on Israel to renounce any ground offensive.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 Mar. 2026
-
The State Department did not provide numbers for the total number of Americans who have renounced their citizenship.—
Matthew Lee,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The annexation petition was withdrawn because of a resolution Castle Pines City Council will consider Tuesday to develop an annexation policy.—
Olivia Young,
CBS News,
21 Mar. 2026
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However, five of the players withdrew their asylum claims, while two members stayed in Australia, according to media reports.—
Cybele Mayes-Osterman,
USA Today,
21 Mar. 2026
Verb
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In a telephone interview with Kyodo News on Friday, Araghchi denied closing the passageway, insisting instead that countries attacking Iran face restrictions, while others were being offered assistance.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
21 Mar. 2026
-
It was denied state subsidies, records show.—
Uwa Ede-Osifo,
Dallas Morning News,
21 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Hochul’s nuclear boosterism contradicts it.—
Manna Jo Greene,
New York Daily News,
16 Mar. 2026
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But that seems to contradict reports of her immediate reaction to Andrew’s arrest.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
15 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unsay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unsay. Accessed 23 Mar. 2026.
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