retract

Synonym Chooser

How is the word retract different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of retract are abjure, forswear, recant, and renounce. While all these words mean "to withdraw one's word or professed belief," retract applies to the withdrawing of a promise, an offer, or an accusation.

the newspaper had to retract the story

When would abjure be a good substitute for retract?

The words abjure and retract are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, abjure implies a firm and final rejecting or abandoning often made under oath.

abjured the errors of his former faith

In what contexts can forswear take the place of retract?

The meanings of forswear and retract largely overlap; however, forswear may add an implication of perjury or betrayal.

I cannot forswear my principles

When might recant be a better fit than retract?

While in some cases nearly identical to retract, recant stresses the withdrawing or denying of something professed or taught.

if they recant they will be spared

When is renounce a more appropriate choice than retract?

The synonyms renounce and retract are sometimes interchangeable, but renounce may carry the meaning of disclaim or disown.

renounced abstract art and turned to portrait painting

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of retract Next month marks the 15-year anniversary of what should have ended Wakefield’s false claim: In February 2010, The Lancet formally retracted his paper in the face of proof that the data had been manipulated. Eleanor Menzin, TIME, 30 Jan. 2025 However, that paper was retracted because of undeclared competing interests on the part of the author and concerns about the validity of the methods and statistical analysis. Will Stone, NPR, 30 Jan. 2025 Publishers, however, are often slow to retract tainted papers, even when alerted to obvious signs of fraud. Guillaume Cabanac, The Conversation, 29 Jan. 2025 The city’s emergency management department retracted the statement in a post on the social platform X and in text messages to residents. Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 10 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for retract
Recent Examples of Synonyms for retract
Verb
  • But that means patients don’t have the usual right of a trial participant to withdraw from a study at any time, Johnson notes.
    Amber Dance, Smithsonian Magazine, 7 Mar. 2025
  • At the event, Mills publicly refused to comply with Trump’s executive order against trans youth in school sports, which threatens to withdraw federal funding from states that maintain inclusive policies.
    Samantha Riedel, Them, 7 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • The outlet said the Unwell Network has renounced all rights to Hot Mess so Earle can freely explore future opportunities.
    Ingrid Vasquez, People.com, 26 Feb. 2025
  • Like his predecessors, Xi has refused to renounce the possible use of force to unify China and Taiwan.
    Sergey Radchenko, Foreign Affairs, 18 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • His response directly contradicts the IMF’s report and the media coverage surrounding the prevention of further accumulation.
    Javier Bastardo, Forbes, 4 Mar. 2025
  • Ivana Saric 4 hours ago - Politics & Policy Kremlin contradicts Trump's claim on peacekeeping forces in Ukraine The Kremlin emphasized Tuesday that Russia had not dropped its opposition to peacekeeping forces in Ukraine, contradicting a claim that President Trump made a day earlier.
    Peter Sullivan, Axios, 24 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Their findings paint a more complicated picture, one that her mother has denied.
    Brian Brant, People.com, 28 Feb. 2025
  • Andrew Tate was also charged with rape, and both brothers have denied all accusations.
    Compiled by Democrat-Gazette staff from wire reports, arkansasonline.com, 28 Feb. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Retract.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/retract. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on retract

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