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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This time, the team started the excavator’s engine, retracted its boom to shift the weight, and tried lifting again.—
Munis Raza,
Interesting Engineering,
13 Mar. 2026
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Other detractors have included Juliette Binoche, Andrea Bocelli and Doja Cat — though Doja Cat later retracted her comments and admitted to using the controversy to get attention.—
Selome Hailu,
Variety,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
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This all comes after reports that Andrew is considering renouncing his spot in the line of succession in order to avoid jail time.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
3 Mar. 2026
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Even as her hard-line tactics have shown some success, Sheinbaum has not renounced the precepts of López Obrador, who, while retired, remains a revered and influential figure.—
Kate Linthicum,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Canada and Mexico defended their trilateral trade agreement with the US following Washington’s threats to withdraw from the $2 trillion pact.—
Jeronimo Gonzalez,
semafor.com,
13 Mar. 2026
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Actor Issa Rae and author Louise Penny also withdrew from appearances while consultants such as musician Ben Folds and singer Renée Fleming resigned.—
Steven Sloan,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
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About ninety-eight per cent of building requests by Palestinians in the area are denied.—
Isaac Chotiner,
New Yorker,
14 Mar. 2026
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The case went to trial in 2023, and Pras was convicted on 10 charges; he was denied a retrial in 2024.—
Hattie Lindert,
Pitchfork,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Nonfarm payrolls fell by 92,000 jobs in February 2026, contradicting expectations for job growth, and the author contends this represents a fundamental weakness in the administration’s economic narrative.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Mar. 2026
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Iranian hard-liners had swiftly contradicted him, saying war strategy wouldn’t change.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
8 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unsay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unsay. Accessed 15 Mar. 2026.
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