as in withdrawn
not comfortable around people
one retiring young girl was sitting alone quietly in a corner during the party
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in settling
to go to one's bed in order to sleep
I'm exhausted, so I think I'll retire for the evening
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in sacking
to let go from office, service, or employment
as a part of its restructuring, the company has begun to retire its older employees
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in withdrawing
to move back or away (as from something difficult, dangerous, or disagreeable)
the insurgents have retired to the outskirts of the city, but appear to be readying themselves for another offensive
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of retiring
Daily News Staff, New York Daily News, 26 May 2025
After running more than 400 games, the researchers concluded that a fully passive style of scavenging – snatching some carrion when no one is looking – was too retiring and less than ideal.
—Matt Hrodey, Discover Magazine, 4 Oct. 2023
Austen’s most retiring and internal heroine, spends much of the movie chatting to the camera, even giving sarcastic glances and eye rolls in the middle of the action.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 15 July 2022
So a more retiring co-parent certainly can be, say, the homework explainer and behind-the-scenes calendar keeper while the more outgoing parent takes meetings and makes phone calls – absolutely.
—Carolyn Hax, Detroit Free Press, 15 May 2018
In part, that's because Hemsley is probably the most retiring, publicity-adverse CEO heading an iconic company.
—Shawn Tully, Fortune, 18 Aug. 2017
Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 11 Feb. 2026
These include retiring the legacy B-1 and B-2 bombers only after sufficient B-21 aircraft are operational, and accelerating the procurement of existing fifth-generation fighters such as the F-35 and the F-15EX, as well as autonomous collaborative combat drones.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 10 Feb. 2026
After earning his bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degrees, Geeslin served as superintendent there until retiring in 2025.
—Claire Rafford, IndyStar, 9 Feb. 2026
Oz often cites the results of a 2022 Gallup poll, where people reported retiring at 61.
—Paige Winfield Cunningham The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 9 Feb. 2026
In a career that saw 93 wins and four championships before retiring as a full-time competitor after the 2015 season, much of it was spent in an era where NASCAR’s popularity was at its zenith with television ratings that at times rivaled the NFL and many races with attendance exceeding six figures.
—Jordan Bianchi, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026
The last person to have done that was Patrick Choël, who held the title of president of the division for six-and-a-half years, until retiring from the role in March 2004.
—Jennifer Weil, Footwear News, 9 Feb. 2026
Republicans are retiring at faster rates than Democrats.
—Domenico Montanaro, NPR, 9 Feb. 2026
Martinez is retiring from the restaurant business but not selling the land (assessed at about $3 million by the Travis County Appraisal District).
—Matthew Odam, Austin American Statesman, 3 Feb. 2026
Adjective
Rangel, a mustachioed, natty dresser rarely seen with a hair out of place, hardly had a reputation for a shy and retiring personality.
—Daily News Staff, New York Daily News, 26 May 2025
After running more than 400 games, the researchers concluded that a fully passive style of scavenging – snatching some carrion when no one is looking – was too retiring and less than ideal.
—Matt Hrodey, Discover Magazine, 4 Oct. 2023
Austen’s most retiring and internal heroine, spends much of the movie chatting to the camera, even giving sarcastic glances and eye rolls in the middle of the action.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 15 July 2022
So a more retiring co-parent certainly can be, say, the homework explainer and behind-the-scenes calendar keeper while the more outgoing parent takes meetings and makes phone calls – absolutely.
—Carolyn Hax, Detroit Free Press, 15 May 2018
In part, that's because Hemsley is probably the most retiring, publicity-adverse CEO heading an iconic company.
—Shawn Tully, Fortune, 18 Aug. 2017
Verb
On the supply side, Baby Boomers are aging and retiring, population growth has slowed, and there’s been a sharp reduction in immigration and an increase in deportations.
—Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 11 Feb. 2026
These include retiring the legacy B-1 and B-2 bombers only after sufficient B-21 aircraft are operational, and accelerating the procurement of existing fifth-generation fighters such as the F-35 and the F-15EX, as well as autonomous collaborative combat drones.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 10 Feb. 2026
After earning his bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degrees, Geeslin served as superintendent there until retiring in 2025.
—Claire Rafford, IndyStar, 9 Feb. 2026
Oz often cites the results of a 2022 Gallup poll, where people reported retiring at 61.
—Paige Winfield Cunningham The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 9 Feb. 2026
In a career that saw 93 wins and four championships before retiring as a full-time competitor after the 2015 season, much of it was spent in an era where NASCAR’s popularity was at its zenith with television ratings that at times rivaled the NFL and many races with attendance exceeding six figures.
—Jordan Bianchi, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026
The last person to have done that was Patrick Choël, who held the title of president of the division for six-and-a-half years, until retiring from the role in March 2004.
—Jennifer Weil, Footwear News, 9 Feb. 2026
Republicans are retiring at faster rates than Democrats.
—Domenico Montanaro, NPR, 9 Feb. 2026
Martinez is retiring from the restaurant business but not selling the land (assessed at about $3 million by the Travis County Appraisal District).
—Matthew Odam, Austin American Statesman, 3 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for retiring
Adjective
-
The Flynns’ pompous neighbor, Jim Doherty, a divorcé with a withdrawn, unpleasant son, encourages Catherine’s artistic rebirth.—
Hannah Gold,
New Yorker,
21 Jan. 2026
-
Off-screen, Affleck has a slightly rougher star persona, while Damon’s can be a little more withdrawn and intellectual.—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Ireland, the Steelers and the Rooney connection The Rooney family, the Steelers’ majority owners, trace their roots to Ireland, where their ancestors emigrated from in the 1840s before eventually settling in Pittsburgh.—
Tom Chitty,
CNBC,
15 Feb. 2026
-
Tripp’s writing has become less brutally pointed as his music has become looser, settling into a form of vibey psych-rock that’s nearly unrecognizable from Angel Du$t’s Ramones-via-Bad Brains origins.—
Eli Enis,
Pitchfork,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The Seattle defense, which nicknamed itself the Dark Side, lived in quarterback Drake Maye’s face, sacking him six times and harassing him into three turnovers.—
Jerry Brewer,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Seattle swarmed quarterback Drake Maye all game, sacking him six times and forcing three turnovers, leaving New England scoreless through the first three quarters.—
Kayla Hayempour,
NBC news,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
India agreed to draw down its purchases, thereby withdrawing a critical financial lifeline for Russia amid its war against Ukraine.—
Kate Nishimura,
Sourcing Journal,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Investigators said Neves-Valente was a former Brown University student who attended the Ivy League school from 2000 to 2001 as part of a PhD program in physics before formally withdrawing in the fall of 2003.—
Ashley Carnahan,
FOXNews.com,
9 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Kristian Houston was a shy, nervous child who was afraid to speak in front of a crowd.—
Kamal Morgan
February 5,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Continue in the southerly direction, appreciating the gnarled coast live oaks and sound of shy red-eared sliders plopping off their logs into the water.—
Jaclyn Cosgrove,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Cruise operators also generally try to cross the roughest waters while guests are sleeping.—
Nathan Diller,
USA Today,
9 Feb. 2026
-
The bedrooms retain the traditional alcova layout, a shallow, arched niche historically used for sleeping.—
Abby Montanez,
Robb Report,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
If addiction ends in reconnection, as Kennedy says, then dismissing interventions that create stability, trust, and continuity in people’s lives is counterproductive.—
Washington Post,
Washington Post,
10 Feb. 2026
-
But the designer explained in his letter that the seasonal campaign is more focused on the theme of dependency and the support of a community, dismissing self sufficiency.—
Luisa Zargani,
Footwear News,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Advertisement The ability to sit face to face, to listen as much as to argue, to disagree without retreating into caricature is a prerequisite for meaningful action.—
Alan H.H. Fleischmann,
Time,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Defeat at Fort Necessity Washington then made the fateful decision to dig in and call for reinforcements instead of retreating in the face of inevitable French retaliation.—
Christopher Magra,
The Conversation,
10 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Retiring.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/retiring. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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