retract

[ri-trakt] / rɪˈtrækt /

VERB

take back; renege on

Synonyms

STRONGEST

back down back off cancel deny disavow disown pull back recant renege renounce repeal repudiate rescind reverse revoke rule out take back withdraw

STRONG

abjure back countermand disclaim eliminate exclude forswear recall recede retreat retrograde sheathe suspend unsay unsend

WEAK

back out of call off change one's mind draw in eat one's words fall back forget it go back on have change of heart pull in reel in retrocede take in

Antonyms

STRONGEST

acknowledge admit agree allow approve enforce go forward permit sanction

STRONG

accept advance forge include welcome

WEAK

corroborate emphasize reaffirm repeat

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Parnell demanded Financial Times retract the report, but did not provide direct evidence that the report was false.

From Salon • Mar. 31, 2026

So the department had to withdraw large portions of four different briefs filed in this case, retract multiple statements made at oral arguments, and ask Castel to correct his own opinion repeating this error.

From Slate • Mar. 27, 2026

All of them have small core teams that expand and retract as projects demand.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 17, 2026

If he is not allowed to retract his plea, there will be another hearing later in the year to consider his appeal against his sentence.

From BBC • Feb. 8, 2026

I feel her rib cage expand and retract.

From "We Are Okay" by Nina LaCour

Vocabulary lists containing retract

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Henry David Thoreau "Civil Disobedience" (1849)

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