renege

verb

re·​nege ri-ˈneg 

 also  -ˈnāg,

-ˈnig;

rē- 

reneged; reneging

intransitive verb

1

: to go back on a promise or commitment

2

: revoke

3

obsolete : to make a denial

transitive verb

: deny, renounce

reneger noun

Synonyms

• withdraw
• recall
• back out
• back down
• retract

Examples of renege in a Sentence

They had promised to pay her tuition but later reneged.

my so-called best friend promised to help me move, only to renege come Saturday morning

Recent Examples on the Web

The dismissive July memo and Trump’s own subsequent attempts to brush aside inquiries about Epstein in press conferences caused an even bigger uproar on the right, with many MAGA loyalists calling for Bondi’s head and even criticizing the president for reneging on a campaign promise. —Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 11 Aug. 2025

The hard-liners ABC News spoke to shared only scant details of the exact terms and timing of their deals with the White House, concerned the Trump administration would renege if the agreements were made public. —Jay O'Brien, ABC News, 22 July 2025

Iranian officials point to these arguments as reasons why the country should renege. —Alexander Smith, NBC news, 26 June 2025

Alas, they’re meant for a less collegial relationship — at least once the Jackal deals with reneging clients, skin-of-his-teeth escapes, disguises worthy of Industrial Light and Magic, and a kinda complicated in-law situation. —Tanya Melendez, EW.com, 1 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Medieval Latin renegare

First Known Use

1548, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Rhymes for renege

• big
• brig
• brigg
• dig
• fig
• gig
• jig
• mig
• pig
• prig
• rig
• sprig

Kids Definition

renege

verb

re·​nege ri-ˈnig  -ˈneg 

-ˈnēg,

-ˈnāg

reneged; reneging

1

: deny

2

: to go back on a promise or agreement

reneged on paying the debt

reneger noun