Definition of renounce
renounced
;renouncing
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
renouncer
nounFrom the M-W Editors
Examples of renounce in a Sentence
Many of his former supporters have renounced him.
He renounced his old way of life.
Recent Examples of renounce from the Web
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Akihito’s father was the first monarch to renounce the concept of a divine emperor.
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Essentially, this was always a voluntary agreement, and Trump was never going to do much on climate change, so renouncing the Paris agreement serves the largely symbolic role of jamming our fingers into the eyes of the rest of the world.
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The Warriors also renounced their rights to Bogut’s backup, Festus Ezeli, to facilitate the Durant signing.
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JOHANNESBURG — South Africa has renounced the citizenship of the man who killed anti-apartheid leader Chris Hani in 1993.
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But, just as Trilling recoiled from grandiloquent radical gesture, Robins seems to have renounced the biographer’s task to come to some sustained conclusion about her subject.
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Japan’s ruling party has long advocated more radical revision, but the public generally supports the war-renouncing article.
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Turing renounces his religious faith and becomes an atheist.
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.
Origin and Etymology of renounce
Middle English, from Anglo-French renuncer, from Latin renuntiare, from re- + nuntiare to report, from nuntius messenger
Synonym Discussion of renounce
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
RENOUNCE Defined for English Language Learners
renounce
playDefinition of renounce for English Language Learners
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: to say especially in a formal or official way that you will no longer have or accept (something) : to formally give up (something)
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: to say in a formal or definite way that you refuse to follow, obey, or support (someone or something) any longer
RENOUNCE Defined for Kids
renounce
playDefinition of renounce for Students
renounced
;renouncing
1 : to give up, abandon, or resign usually by a public declaration The queen renounced the throne.
2 : to refuse to follow, obey, or recognize any longer They renounced the goals of the organization.
Law Dictionary
renounce
playLegal Definition of renounce
renounced
renouncing
transitive verb
1 : to announce one's abandonment or giving up of a right to or interest in : disclaim 1 renounce an inheritance
2 : to refuse to follow, obey, or recognize any further renounce allegiance to one's country
intransitive verb
: to make a renunciation
Learn More about renounce
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Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for renounce Spanish Central: Translation of renounce Nglish: Translation of renounce for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of renounce for Arabic speakers
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