as in withdrawing
to solemnly or formally reject or go back on (as something formerly adhered to)
the newspaper was forced to retract the story, which turned out to be based on fabricated reporting
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Recent Examples of retracting
Self-retracting nozzles are the most hygienic.
—
Bestreviews, Mercury News, 13 Apr. 2026
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
The actress has no interest in retracting her comments.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Mar. 2026
Her delicate proto-shell dangles below, her tiny sails and blossoming eyes retracting at the scent of predators.
—Literary Hub, 23 Feb. 2026
With retracting landing gear and a striking look, too, this set is ideal for young ones with plenty of imagination.
—Alexander Cox, Space.com, 13 Feb. 2026
School public safety had initially reported that a suspect had been taken into custody before retracting that statement.
—Kierra Frazier, CBS News, 13 Dec. 2025
This series of exemptions is part of EPA’s suite of PFAS de-regulation that includes approving PFAS-laden pesticides and retracting some of its maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) that were the result of years of careful research and policymaking.
—Jasmine Laws, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Nov. 2025
Moreover, the patches of skin behind the upper arms and on the trunk reveal that the reptile had powerful muscles for retracting its forelimbs.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 29 Sep. 2025
Bestreviews, Mercury News, 13 Apr. 2026
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
The actress has no interest in retracting her comments.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Mar. 2026
Her delicate proto-shell dangles below, her tiny sails and blossoming eyes retracting at the scent of predators.
—Literary Hub, 23 Feb. 2026
With retracting landing gear and a striking look, too, this set is ideal for young ones with plenty of imagination.
—Alexander Cox, Space.com, 13 Feb. 2026
School public safety had initially reported that a suspect had been taken into custody before retracting that statement.
—Kierra Frazier, CBS News, 13 Dec. 2025
This series of exemptions is part of EPA’s suite of PFAS de-regulation that includes approving PFAS-laden pesticides and retracting some of its maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) that were the result of years of careful research and policymaking.
—Jasmine Laws, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Nov. 2025
Moreover, the patches of skin behind the upper arms and on the trunk reveal that the reptile had powerful muscles for retracting its forelimbs.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 29 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for retracting
Verb
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Since 2016, federal officials allege, Meade has been trying to avoid paying the tax obligation through a number of tactics, which include withdrawing large sums of cash and purchasing cashier’s checks from his business accounts.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
24 Apr. 2026
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Legitimate companies do not walk you through withdrawing cash, using crypto ATMs or buying gold to solve a problem.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The program calls for the recognition of Israel and renouncing armed struggle, effectively sidelining Hamas and other factions.—
Sam Metz,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Apr. 2026
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Returning to the guitars that characterized the band’s earliest work without renouncing their latter-day synths, MacFarlane gives Graham’s ruminations an urgent tenderness.—
Stephen Thomas Erlewine,
Pitchfork,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Advocates say the right to request asylum is enshrined in the country's immigration law and say denying migrants that right puts people fleeing war or persecution in grave danger.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
25 Apr. 2026
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Yet there’s no denying that Renny Harlin, in his utilitarian action-hack way, has some chops.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
25 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Retracting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/retracting. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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