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 of renege

• 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

Then there’s complicity in the Gaza genocide, reneging on promises to address unequal pensions for British women, etc. —Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 21 Jan. 2026

The trial is underway Prosecutors responded to Puig reneging on the plea agreement by charging him with one count of obstruction of justice and two counts of making false statements to federal officials. —Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 21 Jan. 2026

The secretary quickly reneged on the commitments. —Grayson Logue, Washington Post, 9 Jan. 2026

After season one premiered, Amazon reneged on its two-season pickup for reasons that are financially understandable but a terrible blow to the making of art. —Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 1 Dec. 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