Synonym Chooser

How is the word relegate distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of relegate are commit, confide, consign, and entrust. While all these words mean "to assign to a person or place for a definite purpose," relegate implies a consigning to a particular class or sphere often with a suggestion of getting rid of.

relegated to an obscure position in the company

Where would commit be a reasonable alternative to relegate?

While in some cases nearly identical to relegate, commit may express the general idea of delivering into another's charge or the special sense of transferring to a superior power or to a special place of custody.

committed the felon to prison

When is it sensible to use confide instead of relegate?

Although the words confide and relegate have much in common, confide implies entrusting with great assurance or reliance.

confided complete control of my affairs to my attorney

When could consign be used to replace relegate?

In some situations, the words consign and relegate are roughly equivalent. However, consign suggests removing from one's control with formality or finality.

consigned the damaging notes to the fire

When might entrust be a better fit than relegate?

While the synonyms entrust and relegate are close in meaning, entrust implies committing with trust and confidence.

the president is entrusted with broad powers

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 relegate Forget relegating them to seasonal rotation; florals deserve permanent wardrobe status through jewelry, accessories, clothing, shoes, and outerwear. Pooja Shah, Forbes.com, 11 May 2025 Women in the surrealist movement were often relegated to the role of the femme enfant – often young, beautiful women who were expected to be subservient to male artists. Mackenzie Farkus, Christian Science Monitor, 2 May 2025 Set in an 18-karat gold case, at 39 mm it’s not necessarily relegated to the ladies. Paige Reddinger, Robb Report, 30 Apr. 2025 If the next generation of cross-border rails is written in Brussels, Shenzhen or Riyadh, the dollar could be relegated to just one more token on someone else’s ledger, accepted out of habit rather than structural necessity. Zennon Kapron, Forbes.com, 30 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for relegate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for relegate
Verb
  • For example, Canada, the second largest market for U.S. spirits exports after the E.U., imposed a 25 percent tariff on all American spirits that began on March 13, and nearly all Canadian provinces have banished American booze from store shelves.
    Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 25 Apr. 2025
  • An affectionate cat became famous in the town of Fredericksburg, Texas, after local officials decided to banish her from her home at a public library.
    TJ Macias, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Boys of Summer is classified as a fougère, a classically masculine scent categorized by herbaceous top notes (usually lavender), a floral heart, and a green, woody base.
    Ariel Wodarcyk, Glamour, 2 May 2025
  • According to the plan, the parade would be classified as a national special security event, and that request has been submitted by the National Park Service and is under review.
    Lolita C. Baldor, Los Angeles Times, 2 May 2025
Verb
  • With Waltz exiled to New York, Rubio must keep striving to keep Trump and the U.S. government true to friends like Ukraine and wary of deals with Putin.
    New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 2 May 2025
  • His older sons had become enthusiastic crypto proponents after the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol effectively exiled the family business from the mainstream financial system.
    Eric Lipton, New York Times, 29 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The offense ranked 12th in scoring and the defense was 15th in points allowed.
    Rob Reischel, Forbes.com, 14 May 2025
  • For overall military power, the Global Firepower index ranks Germany third in the European Union (EU) behind Italy in second and France at the top.
    Shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 May 2025
Verb
  • In recent months, U.S. officials have been negotiating with various countries willing to accept individuals deported from the U.S. Earlier this week, Rwanda's foreign minister mentioned that his country is in discussions with Washington about accepting deportees.
    Brittney Melton, NPR, 8 May 2025
  • The Department of Homeland Security said the mother chose to take her children with her when she was deported, according to a statement posted in X, formerly known as Twitter.
    Kate Linderman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 May 2025
Verb
  • The institutional medical setting becomes the background for a tale that doesn’t finely distinguish between memory and imagination, one realm bleeding freely into the next.
    Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 9 May 2025
  • But in recent years, the Florida story has gotten harder to distinguish from the national story.
    Amy Weiss-Meyer, The Atlantic, 8 May 2025
Verb
  • Cosmos 482 separated into four pieces, two of which remained in Earth's low orbit and decayed within 48 hours, and the other two pieces went into a higher orbit.
    Mike Snider, USA Today, 11 May 2025
  • Let the chicken cool completely before storing it in the fridge, and separate the meat from the bones for easier reheating.
    Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 10 May 2025
Verb
  • Mormon Wives star Leavitt categorizes her attitude toward beauty as somewhere in the middle on the Utah scale.
    Anneke Knot, Glamour, 14 May 2025
  • It was initially categorized as a 4-alarm fire before being upgraded to a 7-alarm fire later in the evening, according to social media statements from BCFD.
    Melina Khan, USA Today, 13 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Relegate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/relegate. Accessed 22 May. 2025.

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