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Synonyms

withdrawal

American  
[with-draw-uhl, -drawl, with-] / wɪðˈdrɔ əl, -ˈdrɔl, wɪθ- /

noun

  1. Also withdrawment. the act or condition of withdrawing.

  2. Pharmacology. the act or process of ceasing to use an addictive drug.

  3. coitus interruptus.

withdrawal British  
/ wɪðˈdrɔːəl /

noun

  1. an act or process of withdrawing; retreat, removal, or detachment

  2. the period a drug addict goes through following abrupt termination in the use of narcotics, usually characterized by physical and mental symptoms ( withdrawal symptoms )

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
withdrawal Scientific  
/ wĭth-drô′əl,wĭth- /

  1. Discontinuation of the use of an addictive substance. The symptoms of withdrawal include headache, diarrhea, and tremors and can range from mild to life threatening, depending on the extent of the body's reliance on the addictive substance.

Etymology

Origin of withdrawal

First recorded in 1740–50; withdraw + -al 2

Explanation

Withdrawal is when you take something out, like making a withdrawal from your bank account. When you announced you were no longer running for president, your withdrawal from the race disappointed your many supporters. Withdrawal is also used to describe the painful experience that results when you stop taking an addictive drug (when you "take it out" of your system). The state of being emotionally detached is called withdrawal. If a country terminates an agreement like a treaty, that's a withdrawal too. Remember that withdrawal ends in "wal" and not just "wl."

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing withdrawal

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

By contrast, if the 1929 retiree took out this same percentage, he or she would have had a $105,000 account balance in inflation-adjusted dollars after the final withdrawal.

From Barron's • Apr. 19, 2026

Emma Raducanu's absence from the WTA Tour will be extended by at least two more weeks following her withdrawal from the upcoming Madrid Open.

From BBC • Apr. 19, 2026

A 4% recommended withdrawal rate, a common guideline, suggests you could withdraw just $20,000 per year, adjusted for inflation.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 19, 2026

A spokesman for HHS said GSK’s withdrawal on Thursday doesn’t affect generic versions of the drug, which already have updated labels for the genetic condition.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 9, 2026

“Considering how you’ve clammed up since I mentioned Vivian, l think we can agree that shame leads to withdrawal and anger.”

From "Silent To The Bone" by E.L. Konigsburg

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.