renounce

verb

re·nounce ri-ˈnau̇n(t)s

renounced; renouncing

transitive verb

: to give up, refuse, or resign usually by formal declaration

renounce his errors

: to refuse to follow, obey, or recognize any further : repudiate

renounce the authority of the church

intransitive verb

: to make a renunciation

: to fail to follow suit in a card game

renouncement

ri-ˈnau̇n(t)s-mənt

noun

renouncer noun

Choose the Right Synonym for renounce

abdicate, renounce, resign mean to give up a position with no possibility of resuming it.

abdicate implies a giving up of sovereign power or sometimes an evading of responsibility such as that of a parent.

abdicated the throne

renounce may replace it but often implies additionally a sacrifice for a greater end.

renounced her inheritance by marrying a commoner

resign applies to the giving up of an unexpired office or trust.

resigned from the board

abjure, renounce, forswear, recant, retract mean to withdraw one's word or professed belief.

abjure implies a firm and final rejecting or abandoning often made under oath.

abjured the errors of his former faith

renounce may carry the meaning of disclaim or disown.

renounced abstract art and turned to portrait painting

forswear may add an implication of perjury or betrayal.

I cannot forswear my principles

recant stresses the withdrawing or denying of something professed or taught.

if they recant they will be spared

retract applies to the withdrawing of a promise, an offer, or an accusation.

the newspaper had to retract the story

Example Sentences

Many of his former supporters have renounced him. He renounced his old way of life.

Recent Examples on the Web The last remaining human character must renounce their personhood and basic human rights to end the show.

Dan Selinger, The New Yorker, 18 Nov. 2022 At a Communist Party meeting this month, Chinese President Xi Jinping called for accelerating China’s plans to build a world-class military and said his country would never renounce the right to use force to resolve the Taiwan issue.

Reuters, NBC News, 26 Oct. 2022 Will Ellie renounce her future endowment for the love of Jack?

oregonlive, 30 Oct. 2022 No one seems to know exactly how big the real number is, even though both the IRS and FBI track Americans who renounce.

Robert W. Wood, Forbes, 10 July 2022 For decades after Wyoming held its first election that saw women vote, federal law held that any Indigenous person looking to cast a ballot needed to renounce their tribal citizenship and apply for an U.S. one, despite being born on U.S. soil.

AZCentral.com, 23 Aug. 2022 Figure 2) Krishna has yet to explicitly renounce IBM’s MSV heritage.

Steve Denning, Forbes, 25 July 2022 Sosa’s mother and her siblings had to renounce after migrating north — the yearning for home that the director herself inherited — and what Julián himself wants his humble legacy to be once he’s departed.

Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2022 She was persuaded to renounce her claim and to sign an N.D.A., in exchange for a million dollars.

Ken Auletta, The New Yorker, 30 May 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'renounce.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.