retracted

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "retracted" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe the action of taking back, revoking, or withdrawing something that was previously stated or published. Example: The newspaper retracted their previous article after discovering that it contained false information.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

This response is identical to that shown by unamputated volunteers asked to do the same thing.Those with halfway retracted and completely retracted phantoms had different responses.

The Economist

Seven out of nine witnesses on whose evidence he was convicted in 1991 have since changed or retracted their testimony, with some citing police coercion.

The Guardian

He has since held a public liveread of the script and retracted the lawsuit after his case was thrown out of court.

The Guardian - Film

The cartoon, by Glen Le Lievre, has been retracted and the paper apologised for publishing it after Jewish leaders said it was racist.

The Guardian

Just last week The Patriot-News in nearby Harrisburg retracted a dismissive editorial about the speech published by its Civil War-era predecessor, The Harrisburg Patriot & Union.

The Guardian

She called it a "directive" but retracted the description later when presumably somebody reminded her that she is supposed to be an independent member of the judiciary.

The Guardian - Opinion

London's transport commissioner, Sir Peter Hendy, last week described the trains of Southern's sister company, Southeastern – also run by Govia – as "shit" but on Wednesday retracted the comments as "unjustified".

The Guardian

According to screenshots on NBC News, Khawaja initially tweeted that the Queen had died, then retracted, saying the Queen was being treated in hospital.

The Guardian

And throughout the series, from David Warner's unfortunate – and retracted – comments about seeing fear in Jonathan Trott's eyes, the vocabulary of timidity and cowardice has been the dominant motif of England's defeat.

The Guardian - Sport

In November 2010, the court of appeal considered an appeal against sentence in the case of Ms A, who ultimately pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice on the basis that she had falsely retracted true allegations of rape she had made against her husband.

The Guardian - Opinion

The Patriot & Union's descendant, the Patriot-News, retracted those remarks on Thursday, in an editorial cast to echo the words and tone of a speech which became a foundation stone of American democracy.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "retracted" when you want to emphasize the formal or official withdrawal of a statement, claim, or publication. It is suitable for news reports, academic corrections, and legal contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "retracted" in casual conversation. Simpler terms like "took it back" or "apologized for" are more appropriate in informal settings.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "retracted" is as the past tense and past participle of the verb "retract". It signifies the action of withdrawing or taking back something previously said or published. This is consistent with the Ludwig AI analysis and examples provided.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Formal & Business

8%

Science

7%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

Based on the analysis, "retracted" is a verb commonly used in formal contexts, particularly in news and media, to indicate that a statement or piece of information has been officially withdrawn. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness. When writing, remember that "retracted" already implies 'taking back', so avoid redundancy. Opt for simpler terms in informal conversations, and reserve "retracted" for situations requiring precision, such as correcting factual inaccuracies or nullifying official statements. As an alternative consider phrases such as "withdrawn" or "taken back".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

withdrawn

Focuses on the state of being taken back, emphasizing the result of the action.

taken back

A more informal way of saying "retracted", emphasizing the act of reclaiming something said.

recanted

Specifically refers to the formal withdrawal of a previously held belief or statement.

revoked

Emphasizes the cancellation or annulment of something, often a law or permit.

repealed

Used primarily in legal contexts to describe the annulment of a law or statute.

rescinded

Indicates the cancellation of an agreement or order.

nullified

Highlights the act of making something invalid or without legal force.

disavowed

Focuses on denying responsibility for or connection with something.

reversed

Describes the action of changing a decision or outcome to its opposite.

overruled

Refers to a decision being reversed by a higher authority.

FAQs

How do you use "retracted" in a sentence?

You can use "retracted" to indicate that a statement, claim, or publication has been formally withdrawn. For example, "The newspaper "retracted" the article after discovering inaccuracies."

What can I say instead of "retracted"?

You can use alternatives like "withdrawn", "recanted", or "taken back" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "retracted" or "retracted back"?

"Retracted" already implies taking something back, so "retracted back" is redundant. Use ""retracted"" alone.

What's the difference between "retracted" and "rescinded"?

"Retracted" is often used for statements or publications, while "rescinded" is typically used for orders, laws, or agreements. Thus, a claim is "retracted", but a law is "rescinded".