retractile
adjective
re·trac·tile
ri-ˈtrak-tᵊl 
-ˌtī(-ə)l
: capable of being drawn back or in
retractile claws
Examples of retractile in a Sentence
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The large sleek lions hunt alone, ambushing their prey with their curved retractile claws from behind and killing with a bite to the skull.
—
Brianna Taylor, Sacramento Bee, 14 Mar. 2025
The retractile left nipple settled on a ford in the river, a rhythmically burbling ford which was then swiftly crossed by all the people trapped by the swelling River Sipí, to reach the exuberance of a jungle which offered itself, overwhelming but safe.
—Lawrence Jackson, Harper's Magazine, 10 July 2023
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Brianna Taylor, Sacramento Bee, 14 Mar. 2025
The retractile left nipple settled on a ford in the river, a rhythmically burbling ford which was then swiftly crossed by all the people trapped by the swelling River Sipí, to reach the exuberance of a jungle which offered itself, overwhelming but safe.
—Lawrence Jackson, Harper's Magazine, 10 July 2023
Cite this Entry
“Retractile.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/retractile. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
retractile
adjective
re·trac·tile
ri-ˈtrak-tᵊl
-ˌtīl
: capable of being drawn back or in
the retractile claws of a cat
Medical Definition
retractile
adjective
re·trac·tile
ri-ˈtrak-tᵊl
-ˌtīl
-ˌtīl
: capable of being drawn back or in
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