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
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
Catholics also seemed to have abdicated their moral responsibilities to Trump.
—Chicago Tribune, 14 Apr. 2026
He was followed by his son, George V, then his son, Edward VIII, who abdicated.
—Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 9 Apr. 2026
On March 28 Charles Albert abdicated after the decisive defeat at Novara.
—Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 12 Mar. 2026
Responsibility cannot be lost; it can only be abdicated.
—Rich Harwood, Twin Cities, 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 thrown to marry the American divorcee Wallis Simpson.
—ABC News, 24 Feb. 2026
New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 14 Apr. 2026
Catholics also seemed to have abdicated their moral responsibilities to Trump.
—Chicago Tribune, 14 Apr. 2026
He was followed by his son, George V, then his son, Edward VIII, who abdicated.
—Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 9 Apr. 2026
On March 28 Charles Albert abdicated after the decisive defeat at Novara.
—Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 12 Mar. 2026
Responsibility cannot be lost; it can only be abdicated.
—Rich Harwood, Twin Cities, 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 thrown to marry the American divorcee Wallis Simpson.
—ABC News, 24 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abdicated
Verb
-
The top Foreign Office civil servant, Olly Robbins, took the fall for the decision and resigned late Thursday.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Among the new hires is Carmine Gurliacci, 46, who resigned as a police officer in Richmond Hill, Georgia, to join ICE in Atlanta in December, according to a resignation letter obtained by AP.—
Ryan J. Foley,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Min Aung Hlaing, who had attained the rank of senior general, last week relinquished his post of commander-in-chief because the constitution prohibits the president from simultaneously holding the top military position.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
10 Apr. 2026
-
The Nuggets never relinquished that lead.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
7 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Abdicated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abdicated. Accessed 20 Apr. 2026.
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