as in to resign
to give up (as a position of authority) formally
the revolutionary government forced Nicholas II to abdicate the Russian throne
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Recent Examples of abdicate
When the federal government abdicates its responsibility for public health, states, localities, and communities of experts can still try to fill the void.
—
Dhruv Khullar, New Yorker, 24 Sep. 2025
The royal, who abdicated the throne in 1936, was often photographed wearing the pattern, among the first members of the royal family to become a fashion magnet for the public.
—Julia Teti, Footwear News, 11 Sep. 2025
The federal government has functionally abdicated its role in keeping Americans safe from dangerous illness.
—Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 5 Sep. 2025
This isn't about abdicating responsibility.
—Julian Hayes Ii, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for abdicate
Dhruv Khullar, New Yorker, 24 Sep. 2025
The royal, who abdicated the throne in 1936, was often photographed wearing the pattern, among the first members of the royal family to become a fashion magnet for the public.
—Julia Teti, Footwear News, 11 Sep. 2025
The federal government has functionally abdicated its role in keeping Americans safe from dangerous illness.
—Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 5 Sep. 2025
This isn't about abdicating responsibility.
—Julian Hayes Ii, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for abdicate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abdicate
Verb
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Osborne resigned from the board in August to move out of state.—
Edward McKinnon,
Arkansas Online,
16 Oct. 2025
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Spitzer later resigned, and his wife divorced him the following year.—
Emily Blackwood,
PEOPLE,
15 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Bring the Paine The only thing Paine liked less than monarchical rule was its enablers, anyone who relinquished their freedom willingly to an aspiring tyrant.—
Matthew Redmond,
The Conversation,
9 Oct. 2025
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The park’s quiet debut brings to fruition what was envisioned in October 2021, when the city of San Diego relinquished its rights to lease the block from IQHQ and instead entered into a contractual arrangement with the company for a 96-year term.—
Jennifer Van Grove,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
9 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Hamas members who renounce violence will be granted amnesty or safe passage, while those who continue resistance will be excluded from Gaza’s future governance.—
Morgan Phillips,
FOXNews.com,
13 Oct. 2025
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Hamas has yet to accept key parts of that proposal, to include renouncing power and giving up all its arms.—
Brett Samuels,
The Hill,
13 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Abdicate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abdicate. Accessed 21 Oct. 2025.
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