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 This relegated him to being an 82-game player rather than a 16-game one, which limited his value to prospective teams. Mat Issa, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025 Sourcing in this mode is even less robust; Google relegates sources to clickable carets that don’t highlight the relevant portions of its response. Ruben Circelli, PC Magazine, 5 June 2025 In these ancient Roman stories, however, women have long been relegated to secondary actors in the shadow of ambitious men like Gaius Lollius Fuscus. Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 3 June 2025 Monday was largely relegated to jury selection, as attorneys for each side sought to suss out bias by prospective jurors. Nick Coltrain, Denver Post, 2 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for relegate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for relegate
Verb
  • Any input would help. – Visiting Accident Dear Visiting: Don’t banish yourself just yet.
    R. Eric Thomas, Mercury News, 24 June 2025
  • Softening those characters for present-day sensibilities banishes what little edge there was and leaves everything feeling over-bright in a restless and relentless production.
    David Benedict, Variety, 24 June 2025
Verb
  • This component classifies requests and forwards to the WAF just the ones needing inspection, such as dynamic content requests, and offloads the WAF by caching responses.
    Alexander Krizhanovsky, Forbes.com, 23 June 2025
  • The shooting now classified as a-homicide was the third killing reported during a violent weekend in Kansas City, as temperatures soared above 90 degrees across the region.
    Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 22 June 2025
Verb
  • Israel has vowed to continue the war until all the captives are returned and Hamas is defeated, or disarmed and exiled.
    Yesica Fisch, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2025
  • Tulsa King follows New York mafia capo Dwight (Stallone), just after he is released from prison after 25 years and unceremoniously exiled by his boss to set up shop in Tulsa, Okla.
    Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 5 June 2025
Verb
  • The Stallions finished 18-3 and ranked No. 2 in the nation after their 6-5 loss to rival Lake Highland Prep.
    Gary Curreri, Sun Sentinel, 20 June 2025
  • The band likely would have dominated this kind of ranking during its heyday had this specific Billboard tally existed decades ago.
    Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 19 June 2025
Verb
  • He was deported to Egypt on a flight departing on Thursday.
    Elaine Mallon, The Washington Examiner, 26 June 2025
  • Despite Adams’ protests and pleas to remain in the U.S. and seek citizenship, she was deported back to Europe in December 1927.
    Kellie B. Gormly, Smithsonian Magazine, 26 June 2025
Verb
  • Lawyers are expected to distinguish between sound arguments and narcissistic wordplay.
    Orlando Sentinel, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 June 2025
  • Savvy operators are beginning to distinguish between short-term curiosity spend and deeper, more sustainable value.
    Vlad Panin, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025
Verb
  • In a game where the Angels and Nationals combined for 24 runs and 30 hits — with the 19 hits and 15 runs given up by the Angels’ pitching staff representing season-worst marks — what ultimately separated the teams was the Angels’ inability to come through with runners on base.
    Benjamin Royer, Los Angeles Times, 28 June 2025
  • According to the London Times’ Philip Willan, a trade union that represents museum workers had previously warned the Uffizi about the risks posed by the platforms separating visitors from the art.
    Aurora Martínez, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 June 2025
Verb
  • This led us to examine the similarities and themes that could be used to categorize these 37 sports industry revenue segments into an organizational structure.
    Dennis Howard, Sportico.com, 19 June 2025
  • Doctors categorize it as early, middle, or late based on affected cognitive areas and support needed, aiding future planning.
    Nawab John Dar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Relegate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/relegate. Accessed 1 Jul. 2025.

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