unsays
Withdraws one's words
Unsays is the third-person singular of unsay, meaning to retract or take back something spoken.
The word acknowledges that while you can deny or disavow words, you cannot truly unspeak them: She wishes she could unsay what slipped out in anger.
The past tense is unsaid, which more commonly appears as an adjective for things left unspoken.
Formally withdraws statements
- retractsWithdraws a statement
- withdrawsPulls out or removes
- takes backWithdraws a statement
- walks backReverses a prior stance
backtracks · reverses · rescinds · revokes · annuls · countermands · overturns · nullifies
Declares something untrue
- disavowsDenies responsibility or connection
- repudiatesFormally rejects or disavows
- disclaimsDenies connection or responsibility
- disownsRejects as relation
negates · contradicts · refutes · rejects · gainsays · disputes · abjures · renounces
Offers words of regret
- makes amendsCompensates for wrongdoing
- atonesMakes reparation for wrongdoing
- clarifiesMakes more understandable
- rectifiesCorrects or fixes
recants
Formally withdraws statements
- retractsWithdraws a statement
- withdrawsPulls out or removes
- takes backWithdraws a statement
walks back · backtracks · reverses · rescinds · revokes · annuls · countermands · overturns · nullifies · invalidates
denies
Declares something untrue
- disavowsDenies responsibility or connection
- repudiatesFormally rejects or disavows
- disclaimsDenies connection or responsibility
disowns · negates · contradicts · refutes · rejects · gainsays · disputes · abjures · renounces · forswears
apologizes
Offers words of regret
- makes amendsCompensates for wrongdoing
- atonesMakes reparation for wrongdoing
- clarifiesMakes more understandable