RETIRING Synonyms: 165 Similar and Opposite Words

retiring 1 of 2

adjective

ri-ˈtī(-ə)r-iŋ

Definition of retiring

as in withdrawn

not comfortable around people one retiring young girl was sitting alone quietly in a corner during the party

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

retiring

2 of 2

verb

present participle of retire

as in settling

to go to one's bed in order to sleep I'm exhausted, so I think I'll retire for the evening

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in sacking

to let go from office, service, or employment as a part of its restructuring, the company has begun to retire its older employees

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in withdrawing

to move back or away (as from something difficult, dangerous, or disagreeable) the insurgents have retired to the outskirts of the city, but appear to be readying themselves for another offensive

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 retiring

Adjective

Rangel, a mustachioed, natty dresser rarely seen with a hair out of place, hardly had a reputation for a shy and retiring personality. — Daily News Staff, New York Daily News, 26 May 2025 After running more than 400 games, the researchers concluded that a fully passive style of scavenging – snatching some carrion when no one is looking – was too retiring and less than ideal. — Matt Hrodey, Discover Magazine, 4 Oct. 2023 Austen’s most retiring and internal heroine, spends much of the movie chatting to the camera, even giving sarcastic glances and eye rolls in the middle of the action. — David Sims, The Atlantic, 15 July 2022 So a more retiring co-parent certainly can be, say, the homework explainer and behind-the-scenes calendar keeper while the more outgoing parent takes meetings and makes phone calls – absolutely. — Carolyn Hax, Detroit Free Press, 15 May 2018 In part, that's because Hemsley is probably the most retiring, publicity-adverse CEO heading an iconic company. — Shawn Tully, Fortune, 18 Aug. 2017

Verb

Both Collins and Manchin — who represented deep-red West Virginia in the Senate before leaving the Democratic Party and retiring in 2024 — have a history of clashing with their respective parties. — Taurean Small, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026 Outgoing ranking members Angie Craig of Minnesota and Nydia Velázquez of New York are also behind, though retiring members and frontliners generally don’t pay dues in full. — Eleanor Mueller, semafor.com, 20 Oct. 2026 The news comes a day after Carol Choi replaced the retiring Luke Kang as President of The Walt Disney Company APAC. — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 20 Oct. 2026 The El Dorado County Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to appoint Undersheriff Eric Palmberg to succeed Sheriff Jeff Leikauf, who is retiring in December. — Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 20 Oct. 2026 Related Stories Penn plays Kapoor, a closeted physician who takes over a retiring colleague’s practice, in the process inheriting Anna Nicole Smith (Abbie Cornish) as a patient. — Todd Gilchrist, Variety, 17 Oct. 2026 Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has been issuing more short-term debt to finance the deficit and is retiring long-term obligations. — Jason Ma, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2026 Miguel Rojas is retiring That was indeed the final game of Rojas’ career. — Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026 The technician gets one coherent answer instead of four tools to reconcile by hand, and the plant avoids the downtime that used to depend on one retiring expert’s memory. — Osman Koc, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for retiring

Adjective

In an era of ball-to-feet No 10s and withdrawn strikers, Welbeck stays high up the pitch, runs the channels and occupies defenders.

— Liam Tharme, New York Times, 27 July 2026
The withdrawn earnings are taxed as ordinary income, the Treasury said.

— Jessica Dickler, CNBC, 11 July 2026

Definition of withdrawn

Verb

He was educated at Middlebury College, and lived in New York City for 15 years, before settling back on the farm with his wife, Olga, and their children, Fiona and Abraham.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2026
Now, Rupert Murdoch views Fox as a core part of his legacy, as last year’s family trust battle underscores, with his son Lachlan ultimately securing control of the empire after battling (and ultimately settling with) his siblings.

— Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of settling

Verb

The underlying data shows the Chiefs should be sacking the quarterback at a higher rate already, albeit still not near an elite rate.

— Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 27 Oct. 2026
Sayin’s injury came after Hoosiers defender Mario Landino hit his throwing shoulder while sacking him.

— Scott Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of sacking

Verb

In these situations, withdrawing into a literal or symbolic dark room—avoiding sources of stress and going to a safe place—can be adaptive in the short term.

— Maia Szalavitz, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
After two decades of war, the US military was withdrawing from Afghanistan, and Kabul was falling.

— Azadeh Moaveni, Vanity Fair, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of withdrawing

Verb

On June 24, Matis blew through a stop sign and slammed into a home on the 2900 block of Southwest 57th Avenue, where Bezy was sleeping.

— Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 22 Oct. 2026
Health organizations, including Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, say too much caffeine can cause significant side effects, including tremors, anxiety, difficulty sleeping, seizures and other complications.

— ABC News, ABC News, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of sleeping

Verb

In September, Judge Jonathan Medema ordered a stay of the civil case so the two sides could work to resolve the dispute without dismissing the case.

— Mark Dee, Idaho Statesman, 22 Oct. 2026
The court granted that request, entering judgment for the United States on Count III of the government’s complaint and dismissing the remaining counts as moot.

— Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of dismissing

Verb

Many have reacted by retreating, focusing on cultivating niche audiences.

— Max Tani, semafor.com, 25 Oct. 2026
Longtime collaborator Erik Blood foregrounds Butler’s dry drum machines in the mix, letting every other element shuffle around them, snaking toward the spotlight for a brief moment and retreating back into the brume.

— Dash Lewis, Pitchfork, 23 Oct. 2026