unsay
Withdraw one's words
To unsay is to retract or take back something said—though the word acknowledges you can't truly erase spoken words: I wish I could unsay what I told her.
The term appears most often in contexts of regret, where someone wants to undo verbal damage.
What's said cannot be unsaid.
Withdraw something said
- withdrawRemove or pull away
- take backWithdraw previous words
- recantFormally withdraw a statement
- revokeOfficially cancel authorization
rescind · unspoken · recall · disavow · walk back · backpedal · eat one's words · swallow one's words
Refuse to admit
- disavowDeny any association
- disownReject connection to
- repudiateReject as having no authority
- disclaimDeny connection or responsibility
renounce · abjure · forswear · abnegate · negate · contradict · refute · rebut
Express oneself incorrectly
- misstateExpress incorrectly
- clarifyMake something understandable
- correctFree from error
- amendModify or correct
revise · restate · rephrase · reword · reformulate · qualify · explain · rectify
Acknowledge a fault
- regretSorrow over past actions
- remorseGuilt for wrongdoing
- contritionRemorseful state over misdeeds
- penitenceRemorse for misdeeds
repentance · sorry · atone · amends · compunction · self-reproach · rue · lament
retract
Withdraw something said
revoke · rescind · unspoken · recall · disavow · walk back · backpedal · eat one's words · swallow one's words · reverse
deny
Refuse to admit
disclaim · renounce · abjure · forswear · abnegate · negate · contradict · refute · rebut · disaffirm
misspeak
Express oneself incorrectly
amend · revise · restate · rephrase · reword · reformulate · qualify · explain · rectify · emend
apologize
Acknowledge a fault
- regretSorrow over past actions
- remorseGuilt for wrongdoing
- contritionRemorseful state over misdeeds
penitence · repentance · sorry · atone · amends · compunction · self-reproach · rue · lament · second thoughts