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
In 2019, Japan’s 85-year-old Emperor Akihito abdicated his throne, ending his three-decade reign; his son Crown Prince Naruhito ascended to the Chrysanthemum Throne.
—
Chicago Tribune, 30 Apr. 2026
That was on clear display over the past week, when legislators abdicated their authority over congressional redistricting to the governor.
—Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 30 Apr. 2026
Earlier, King Philippe's grandfather, King Leopold III, also abdicated in 1951 amid a political crisis to safeguard the monarchy.
—Staff Author, PEOPLE, 23 Apr. 2026
Accountability for public officials who have used the office for their own gain and abdicated the grave responsibilities vested in them is popular and a galvanizing political force.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 14 Apr. 2026
In 2019, Japan’s 85-year-old Emperor Akihito abdicated his throne, ending his three-decade reign; his son Crown Prince Naruhito ascended to the Chrysanthemum Throne.
—ABC News, 13 Apr. 2026
On March 28 Charles Albert abdicated after the decisive defeat at Novara.
—Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 12 Mar. 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
Chicago Tribune, 30 Apr. 2026
That was on clear display over the past week, when legislators abdicated their authority over congressional redistricting to the governor.
—Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 30 Apr. 2026
Earlier, King Philippe's grandfather, King Leopold III, also abdicated in 1951 amid a political crisis to safeguard the monarchy.
—Staff Author, PEOPLE, 23 Apr. 2026
Accountability for public officials who have used the office for their own gain and abdicated the grave responsibilities vested in them is popular and a galvanizing political force.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 14 Apr. 2026
In 2019, Japan’s 85-year-old Emperor Akihito abdicated his throne, ending his three-decade reign; his son Crown Prince Naruhito ascended to the Chrysanthemum Throne.
—ABC News, 13 Apr. 2026
On March 28 Charles Albert abdicated after the decisive defeat at Novara.
—Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 12 Mar. 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abdicated
Verb
-
The kind of storm leaving Maxey resigned to the very idea of defeat before the halftime break.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
9 May 2026
-
One of them was Varga, who resigned from parliament in disgrace.—
Andrew Marantz,
New Yorker,
9 May 2026
Verb
-
The Royals took a 7-6 lead and never relinquished it.—
Jaylon Thompson
May 2,
Kansas City Star,
2 May 2026
-
In April, two babies were relinquished at Connecticut hospitals under the state’s Safe Havens Act, according to the state Department of Children and Families.—
Mikayla Bunnell,
Hartford Courant,
30 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Abdicated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abdicated. Accessed 10 May. 2026.
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