repudiation

noun

re·​pu·​di·​a·​tion ri-ˌpyü-dē-ˈā-shən 

: the act of repudiating : the state of being repudiated

especially : the refusal of public authorities to acknowledge or pay a debt

repudiationist

ri-ˌpyü-dē-ˈā-sh(ə-)nist 

noun

Synonyms

• contradiction
• denegation
• denial
• disallowance
• disavowal
• disclaimer
• disconfirmation
• negation
• rejection

Examples of repudiation in a Sentence

voters seemed satisfied by the candidate's public repudiation of the beliefs of an organization to which he had briefly belonged as a youth

New Year's resolutions typically include the repudiation of chocolate and other indulgences and the promise to resume working out at the gym.

Recent Examples on the Web

Herzog’s visit wasn’t originally intended as a repudiation of Netanyahu. —Eric Cortellessa, Time, 18 July 2023

But some at the network saw the way that change was communicated as a repudiation of their past work. —David Bauder, ajc, 7 June 2023

But some at the network saw Licht’s mandate for change as a repudiation of their past work, and a live town hall interview with Trump last month drew widespread criticism. —David Bauder, Anchorage Daily News, 7 June 2023

But some at the network saw Licht’s mandate for change as a repudiation of their past work. —David Bauder, Chicago Tribune, 7 June 2023

Adams promised not just a return to common sense but a repudiation of recent Democratic politics, which had been dominated by calls for criminal justice reform and protests of police brutality. —Alex Shephard, The New Republic, 5 Apr. 2023

But the candidates aren’t doing much to stack the deck in their favor, declining again to issue a forceful repudiation of Trump. —Chuck Todd, NBC News, 19 July 2023

Decision: The Supreme Court's decision Tuesday in a case involving North Carolina's congressional map was a repudiation of an argument raised by state Republicans that state legislatures have virtually unchecked power to set election rules. —John Fritze, USA TODAY, 28 June 2023

The women detail their experiences sincerely, for therapeutic purposes, but the punitive essence of these confessions is spotlighted by Gia’s refusal to stand and deliver, an act of silent defiance that exemplifies her repudiation of the system at large. —Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 13 July 2023

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Word History

First Known Use

circa 1530, in the meaning defined above

Legal Definition

repudiation

noun

re·​pu·​di·​a·​tion ri-ˌpyü-dē-ˈā-shən 

: the rejection or renunciation of a duty or obligation (as under a contract)

especially : anticipatory repudiation

Note: A party aggrieved by a repudiation may consider a repudiated contract to have been breached and bring an action for relief.