abdicates; abdicated; abdicating
1
: to leave the position of being a king or queen
The king was forced to abdicate.
The king abdicated the throne.
2
formal
: to fail to do what is required by (a duty or responsibility)
The government abdicated [=abandoned] its responsibility to provide a good education to all citizens.
Cite this Entry
“Abdicate.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/abdicate. Accessed 15 Jun. 2026.
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