renege

verb

re·​nege ri-ˈneg How to pronounce renege (audio)
 also  -ˈnāg,
-ˈnig;
rē- How to pronounce renege (audio)
reneged; reneging

intransitive verb

1
: to go back on a promise or commitment
2
: revoke
3
obsolete : to make a denial
reneger noun

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Then again, Trump could just cash out, reneging on his word and, in doing so, perhaps cementing a windfall large enough to solidify his position on The Forbes 400 for years to come. Dan Alexander, Forbes, 1 Oct. 2024 The claimants insist the institution reneged on Bredius’ initial conditions for making the gift, and should pay the consequences, reports The New York Times. The Editors Of Artnews, ARTnews.com, 27 Sep. 2024 But Maduro reneged on the agreement and instead cracked down on his critics, detaining political opponents and human rights defenders, disqualifying opposition candidates and prosecuting critics on politically motivated charges. Tirana Hassan, The Mercury News, 6 Nov. 2024 However, their friendship begins to fall apart when Jong-ryeo’s family reneges on their promise to set Cheon-yeong free. Regina Kim, Forbes, 11 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for renege 

Word History

Etymology

Medieval Latin renegare

First Known Use

1548, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of renege was in 1548

Dictionary Entries Near renege

Cite this Entry

“Renege.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/renege. Accessed 4 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

renege

verb
re·​nege ri-ˈnig How to pronounce renege (audio) -ˈneg How to pronounce renege (audio)
-ˈnēg,
-ˈnāg
reneged; reneging
1
: deny
2
: to go back on a promise or agreement
reneged on paying the debt
reneger noun

More from Merriam-Webster on renege

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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