1
as in withdrawing
to break a promise or agreement
my so-called best friend promised to help me move, only to renege come Saturday morning
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in renouncing
to solemnly or formally reject or go back on (as something formerly adhered to)
refused to renege the principles by which she had always lived her life, even if it resulted in losing her business
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of reneging
But Republicans reject the idea of reopening months of bipartisan negotiations and argue that Democrats are reneging on a deal their own appropriators helped write, which also passed the House last week, before the shooting in Minneapolis.
—
Nik Popli, Time, 27 Jan. 2026
The trial is underway Prosecutors responded to Puig reneging on the plea agreement by charging him with one count of obstruction of justice and two counts of making false statements to federal officials.
—Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 21 Jan. 2026
Then there’s complicity in the Gaza genocide, reneging on promises to address unequal pensions for British women, etc.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 21 Jan. 2026
But there are political realities at play too, because reneging on deals could affect other foreign policy or economic priorities.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 3 Nov. 2025
Tuesday’s announcement comes after Israel accused Hamas of violating the truce by firing on Israeli forces in Rafah and reneging on promises to return missing hostage remains.
—Ben Smith, semafor.com, 31 Oct. 2025
In the seven-page lawsuit, Giles also accuses Cole of reneging on other promises related to the collaboration.
—Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 28 Oct. 2025
Trump suggested Hamas was reneging on its promise to return the dead, and threatened the group with violence.
—Maayan Lubell, USA Today, 14 Oct. 2025
Newsom committed Wednesday to release some state funding to the struggling agencies, including BART and AC Transit, after lawmakers raised the alarm that the governor was reneging on his prior commitment to do so.
—Grant Stringer, Mercury News, 12 Sep. 2025
Nik Popli, Time, 27 Jan. 2026
The trial is underway Prosecutors responded to Puig reneging on the plea agreement by charging him with one count of obstruction of justice and two counts of making false statements to federal officials.
—Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 21 Jan. 2026
Then there’s complicity in the Gaza genocide, reneging on promises to address unequal pensions for British women, etc.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 21 Jan. 2026
But there are political realities at play too, because reneging on deals could affect other foreign policy or economic priorities.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 3 Nov. 2025
Tuesday’s announcement comes after Israel accused Hamas of violating the truce by firing on Israeli forces in Rafah and reneging on promises to return missing hostage remains.
—Ben Smith, semafor.com, 31 Oct. 2025
In the seven-page lawsuit, Giles also accuses Cole of reneging on other promises related to the collaboration.
—Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 28 Oct. 2025
Trump suggested Hamas was reneging on its promise to return the dead, and threatened the group with violence.
—Maayan Lubell, USA Today, 14 Oct. 2025
Newsom committed Wednesday to release some state funding to the struggling agencies, including BART and AC Transit, after lawmakers raised the alarm that the governor was reneging on his prior commitment to do so.
—Grant Stringer, Mercury News, 12 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reneging
Verb
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Uhlaender accused the Canadian team and its coach, Joe Cecchini, of intentionally withdrawing the athletes, deliberately manipulating the field to benefit one of their own sliders’ bids for qualification.—
Don Riddell,
CNN Money,
26 Jan. 2026
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In so doing, avoid withdrawing NATO’s commitment to defend NATO member states’ remote, former (and, in the case of Cyprus, coincidentally insular) colonial territories was thus established as a norm for the alliance, not an exception – one that is newly relevant once again.—
Barry Scott Zellen,
Hartford Courant,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Margaret’s father succeeded him as King George VI, and her mother Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, never forgave the duke for renouncing his duty to his country.—
Samantha Conti,
Footwear News,
29 Dec. 2025
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Ukraine withdrawing from all of the Donbas, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions, and Kyiv officially renouncing its aim to join NATO.—
Andrea Shalal,
USA Today,
28 Dec. 2025
Verb
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His coach at Texas A&M, Jackie Sherrill, sent a statement recalling that Chet had been a key recruit out of Carter in 1984 and a cornerstone of three straight SWC champs.—
Kevin Sherrington,
Dallas Morning News,
26 Jan. 2026
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The mood in the crowd was widespread anger and sadness — recalling the same outpouring of wrath and grief that shook the city after the murder of George Floyd at the hands of police in 2020, although without the widespread violent protests then.—
Jack Brook,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
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School public safety had initially reported that a suspect had been taken into custody before retracting that statement.—
Kierra Frazier,
CBS News,
13 Dec. 2025
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This series of exemptions is part of EPA’s suite of PFAS de-regulation that includes approving PFAS-laden pesticides and retracting some of its maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) that were the result of years of careful research and policymaking.—
Jasmine Laws,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 Nov. 2025
Verb
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In America, a property owner backing out of a location agreement can lead to legal action and is rare.—
Aaron Couch,
HollywoodReporter,
8 Jan. 2026
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After backing out of Monday's Dawson's Creek cast reunion in New York City due to illness, James Van Der Beek still made a surprise appearance at the event in a sweet video message for attendees and his fellow cast members.—
Joey Nolfi,
Entertainment Weekly,
23 Sep. 2025
Verb
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These two teams have circled each other since the Rams won the NFC West last winter based off a tiebreaker, denying Seattle the opportunity to play for a postseason spot before their Week 18 matchup.—
Adam Grosbard,
Oc Register,
25 Jan. 2026
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While federal law makes Ross immune from being directly sued for assault or wrongful death in Good’s shooting, he could be named as a defendant – and end up in front of a jury – in a suit accusing him of denying Good’s civil rights.—
Andy Rose,
CNN Money,
25 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Democrats are doubling down that Republicans are the ones to blame for federal workers’ pain, arguing that backing down and voting for the GOP continuing resolution will likely come back to haunt them.—
Rachel Schilke,
The Washington Examiner,
29 Oct. 2025
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The Corporation for Public Broadcasting is not backing down in its fight against National Public Radio.—
Max Tani,
semafor.com,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Instead of repealing the climate scam mandates that are causing exploding energy costs, @MassGovernor is using tax dollars to artificially Band-Aid bills for a couple of months – money which was received through the utility companies (ratepayers) due to mandates!—
Tim Dunn,
Boston Herald,
22 Jan. 2026
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The changes include repealing a prohibition from constructing or operating a nuclear facility without an IDEM permit and repealing the authorization for the commissioner to conduct a public hearing on environmental effects.—
Maya Wilkins,
Chicago Tribune,
21 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Reneging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reneging. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
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