Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

Thesaurus

forswear

verb
variants: also foreswear

Synonyms and Antonyms of forswear

to solemnly or formally reject or go back on (as something formerly adhered to)

  • the new government would have to forswear the use of torture if it wished to be granted full diplomatic recognition
Synonyms of forswear

abjure, abnegate, recant, renege, renounce, repeal, repudiate, retract, take back, unsay, withdraw
Words Related to forswear

contradict, deny, disavow, disclaim, disown, gainsay, negate, negative

abandon, bolt, forsake, give up, relinquish, spurn, surrender

controvert, disagree (with), disprove, dispute, rebut, refute

back down, back off, backtrack

disallow, recall, revoke
Near Antonyms of forswear

acknowledge, admit, affirm, assert, avow, claim, contend, declare, maintain, proclaim, profess, state, vouch, vow

back, confirm, defend, endorse (also indorse), espouse, maintain, support, uphold

accept, adopt, embrace
Antonyms of forswear

adhere (to)

Synonym Discussion of forswear

abjure, renounce, forswear, recant, retract mean to withdraw one's word or professed belief. abjure implies a firm and final rejecting or abandoning often made under oath.
    • abjured the errors of his former faith
renounce may carry the meaning of disclaim or disown.
    • renounced abstract art and turned to portrait painting
forswear may add an implication of perjury or betrayal.
    • I cannot forswear my principles
recant stresses the withdrawing or denying of something professed or taught.
    • if they recant they will be spared
retract applies to the withdrawing of a promise, an offer, or an accusation.
    • the newspaper had to retract the story

Learn More about forswear

  1. See words that rhyme with forswear Dictionary: Definition of forswear Spanish Central: Translation of forswear Nglish: Translation of forswear for Spanish speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up forswear? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show comments hide comments

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games