renounce

verb

re·nounce | \ri-ˈnau̇n(t)s

renounced; renouncing

Definition of renounce

transitive verb

1 : to give up, refuse, or resign usually by formal declaration renounce his errors

2 : to refuse to follow, obey, or recognize any further : repudiate renounce the authority of the church

intransitive verb

1 : to make a renunciation

2 : to fail to follow suit in a card game

Other Words from renounce Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about renounce

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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

Examples of renounce in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples on the Web

The argument comes as the Trump administration has abdicated leadership on environmental issues, renouncing the Paris Agreement and offering a Clean Power Plan replacement this month that would do little to curb carbon dioxide emissions. — Megan Geuss, Ars Technica, "Governor’s desk last stop to California pledging 100% carbon-free energy by 2045," 30 Aug. 2018 In that novel’s denouement, the protagonist Charles’s love interest, Julia, renounces him, because she, in accordance with Catholic teaching, cannot bring herself to remarry after a divorce. — Tara Isabella Burton, Vox, "The religious hunger that drives Jordan Peterson’s fandom," 1 June 2018 In 1959, nearly 5,000 Japanese-Americans had their US citizenships restored after choosing to renounce them during World War II. — BostonGlobe.com, "This day in history," 19 May 2018 And unlike Ellison, Bolton had never broken off his ties with his hateful allies, or renounced their bigotry, much less campaigned for a presidential candidate who belonged to the religious community that his erstwhile friends had vilified. — Eric Levitz, Daily Intelligencer, "John Bolton and The Anti-Muslim Bigotry of Mainstream Conservatism," 27 Mar. 2018 Its affiliate, the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group, was disbanded in 2011; its members renounced violence but distinguished themselves as relatively disciplined rebels once the revolution against Libyan strongman Moammar Gadhafi kicked off. — Nabih Bulos, The Seattle Times, "Seventeen years after Sept. 11, al-Qaida may be stronger than ever," 10 Sep. 2018 The party renounced such ideology nearly two decades ago. — Bojan Pancevski, WSJ, "Sweden’s Far Right Rises in a Campaign Defined by Immigration," 6 Sep. 2018 The only country to have built nuclear weapons and then renounced them, gaining NPT membership and respectability, is South Africa. — The Economist, "North Korea presents nuclear disarmament’s biggest challenge yet," 5 July 2018 The renditions happened at the height of the US-led ‘‘war on terror,’’ and at a time when Britain was trying to improve relations with Khadafy, a former international pariah who had recently renounced weapons of mass destruction. — Jill Lawless, BostonGlobe.com, "UK apologizes for role in Libyans’ kidnapping and torture," 10 May 2018

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.