as in resigned
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 abdicated
Responsibility cannot be lost; it can only be abdicated.
—
Rich Harwood, Twin Cities, 1 Mar. 2026
That means 4 out of every 5 fellow citizens of our state abdicated their civic responsibility.
—Otis Moss Iii, Chicago Tribune, 1 Mar. 2026
In 1936, King Edward VIII abdicated to his younger brother, King George VI.
—Geoffrey Greif, Baltimore Sun, 28 Feb. 2026
Although the Shah never officially abdicated, the Iranian population voted in a national referendum on April 1 to become an Islamic republic and to make Khomeini the country's supreme leader, effectively replacing the Shah's secular authoritarian monarchy with an anti-Western theocracy.
—Brit McCandless Farmer, CBS News, 28 Feb. 2026
Commentators have compared the pressures facing the House of Windsor to 1936, when King Edward VIII abdicated the throne to marry the American divorcee Wallis Simpson.
—Danica Kirka, Los Angeles Times, 24 Feb. 2026
Commentators have compared the pressures facing the House of Windsor to 1936, when King Edward VIII abdicated the thrown to marry the American divorcee Wallis Simpson.
—ABC News, 24 Feb. 2026
The board of the South Broward Hospital District (Memorial Healthcare System) abdicated its leadership role and allowed Strum to take over as Memorial’s interim CEO.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 22 Feb. 2026
By opposing the public interest on this matter, AG Campbell has abdicated her responsibility as our chief law enforcement officer.
—Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald, 21 Feb. 2026
Rich Harwood, Twin Cities, 1 Mar. 2026
That means 4 out of every 5 fellow citizens of our state abdicated their civic responsibility.
—Otis Moss Iii, Chicago Tribune, 1 Mar. 2026
In 1936, King Edward VIII abdicated to his younger brother, King George VI.
—Geoffrey Greif, Baltimore Sun, 28 Feb. 2026
Although the Shah never officially abdicated, the Iranian population voted in a national referendum on April 1 to become an Islamic republic and to make Khomeini the country's supreme leader, effectively replacing the Shah's secular authoritarian monarchy with an anti-Western theocracy.
—Brit McCandless Farmer, CBS News, 28 Feb. 2026
Commentators have compared the pressures facing the House of Windsor to 1936, when King Edward VIII abdicated the throne to marry the American divorcee Wallis Simpson.
—Danica Kirka, Los Angeles Times, 24 Feb. 2026
Commentators have compared the pressures facing the House of Windsor to 1936, when King Edward VIII abdicated the thrown to marry the American divorcee Wallis Simpson.
—ABC News, 24 Feb. 2026
The board of the South Broward Hospital District (Memorial Healthcare System) abdicated its leadership role and allowed Strum to take over as Memorial’s interim CEO.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 22 Feb. 2026
By opposing the public interest on this matter, AG Campbell has abdicated her responsibility as our chief law enforcement officer.
—Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald, 21 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abdicated
Verb
-
Before the wedding, Carolyn had resigned from her job at Calvin Klein, recognizing that her newfound fame was becoming more of a hindrance than a help.—
Jessica Radloff,
Glamour,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Reilly replaced Richard Zimmerman, who resigned amid significant revenue losses and a slump in attendance at its amusement parks.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
China, historically the largest driver of the country’s overall trade deficit in goods, has relinquished its status in that regard.—
Kate Nishimura,
Sourcing Journal,
4 Mar. 2026
-
And, in fact, a lot of that control is relinquished through their third-party Wi-Fi suppliers.—
Emily Cappiello,
Travel + Leisure,
25 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Abdicated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abdicated. Accessed 11 Mar. 2026.
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