FORSWEAR Synonyms: 64 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'forswear' different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of forswear are abjure , recant , renounce , and retract . While all these words mean "to withdraw one's word or professed belief," forswear may add an implication of perjury or betrayal. // I cannot forswear my principles

Q: When might 'abjure' be a better fit than 'forswear'?

The words abjure and forswear can be used in similar contexts, but abjure implies a firm and final rejecting or abandoning often made under oath. // abjured the errors of his former faith

Q: When would 'recant' be a good substitute for 'forswear'?

While in some cases nearly identical to forswear , recant stresses the withdrawing or denying of something professed or taught. // if they recant they will be spared

Q: When can 'renounce' be used instead of 'forswear'?

In some situations, the words renounce and forswear are roughly equivalent. However, renounce may carry the meaning of disclaim or disown. // renounced abstract art and turned to portrait painting

Q: When is 'retract' a more appropriate choice than 'forswear'?

The synonyms retract and forswear are sometimes interchangeable, but retract applies to the withdrawing of a promise, an offer, or an accusation. // the newspaper had to retract the story

forswear

verb

fȯr-ˈswer

variants also foreswear

Definition of forswear next

as in to renounce

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 & Similar Words

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Synonym Chooser

How is the word forswear different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of forswear are abjure, recant, renounce, and retract. While all these words mean "to withdraw one's word or professed belief," forswear may add an implication of perjury or betrayal.

I cannot forswear my principles

When might abjure be a better fit than forswear?

The words abjure and forswear can be used in similar contexts, but abjure implies a firm and final rejecting or abandoning often made under oath.

abjured the errors of his former faith

When would recant be a good substitute for forswear?

While in some cases nearly identical to forswear, recant stresses the withdrawing or denying of something professed or taught.

if they recant they will be spared

When can renounce be used instead of forswear?

In some situations, the words renounce and forswear are roughly equivalent. However, renounce may carry the meaning of disclaim or disown.

renounced abstract art and turned to portrait painting

When is retract a more appropriate choice than forswear?

The synonyms retract and forswear are sometimes interchangeable, but retract applies to the withdrawing of a promise, an offer, or an accusation.

the newspaper had to retract the story

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of forswear In France, the National Rally party of Marine Le Pen—who is notably obsessed with cats—has talked up the healing power of touching animals (among other such positions) but will not forswear foie gras. —

Daniel Engber, The Atlantic, 22 Feb. 2026 Three other Democrats previously in receipt of copious donations have similarly forsworn further AIPAC funding. —

Andrew Cockburn, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025 Other offshoots in Turkey and Tunisia have forsworn violence and come to power by democratic means. —

Adeola Adeosun, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Nov. 2025 Beijing, in other words, got Washington to forswear one of its best economic tools just as China was wielding its own leverage. —

Mira Rapp-Hooper, Foreign Affairs, 29 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for forswear

Recent Examples of Synonyms for forswear

Verb

Should the chain of citizenship break somewhere along the line, however, where an ancestor renounced their citizenship, rights to Canadian citizenship end there.

— Vivian Song, CNN Money, 30 Mar. 2026
The German Jews were the founders of American Reform Judaism, which renounced dietary laws, bar mitzvahs, and Zionism.

— Adam Kirsch, The Atlantic, 23 Mar. 2026