Synonyms for retract

Verb

1. abjure, recant, forswear, retract, resile, renounce, repudiate

usage: formally reject or disavow a formerly held belief, usually under pressure; "He retracted his earlier statements about his religion"; "She abjured her beliefs"

2. shrink back, retract, flinch, squinch, funk, cringe, shrink, wince, recoil, quail

usage: pull away from a source of disgust or fear

3. retract, pull back, draw back, pull

usage: use a surgical instrument to hold open (the edges of a wound or an organ)

4. draw in, retract, attract, pull, pull in, draw, draw in

usage: pull inward or towards a center; "The pilot drew in the landing gear"; "The cat retracted his claws"