retract vs abjure

retract and abjure both are verbs.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
retract	No	No	Yes	No
abjure	No	No	Yes	No

As verbs, retract and abjure are synonyms defined as:

retract and abjure: formally reject or disavow a formerly held belief, usually under pressure

Other synonyms of retract include forswear, recant, resile.

retract (verb)	abjure (verb)
formally reject or disavow a formerly held belief, usually under pressure	formally reject or disavow a formerly held belief, usually under pressure
pull inward or towards a center
use a surgical instrument to hold open (the edges of a wound or an organ)
pull away from a source of disgust or fear