renege

1 of 2

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

reneger

2 of 2

noun

re·​neg·​er

-gə(r)

plural -s

: one that reneges

Synonyms of renege

Verb

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

Examples of renege in a Sentence

Verb

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

Verb

Witnesses to the raid maintained that the protest was lawful and accused Martin Berger, SAIC’s provost, of reneging on a promise to allow student leaders to reach an internal compromise before involving police. —Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 9 June 2026

The New York Times reported that Mamdani had vowed to back Espaillat, and was now reneging on that commitment. —Joseph Strauss, Sun Sentinel, 1 June 2026

For all the fun and disruption, the commitment to elite sport itself never felt reneged. —Megan Feringa, New York Times, 1 June 2026

Everlane has been criticized before for reneging on its commitment to transparency when convenient. —Scottie Andrew, CNN Money, 20 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Medieval Latin renegare

First Known Use

Verb

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