resign

as in to abdicate
to give up (as a position of authority) formally following the election, the incumbent cabinet members resigned their positions so the president could feel free to pick a new administration

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of resign are abandon, relinquish, surrender, waive, and yield. While all these words mean "to give up completely," resign emphasizes voluntary relinquishment or sacrifice without struggle.

resigned her position

When would abandon be a good substitute for resign?

Although the words abandon and resign have much in common, abandon stresses finality and completeness in giving up.

abandoned all hope

When is relinquish a more appropriate choice than resign?

The synonyms relinquish and resign are sometimes interchangeable, but relinquish usually does not imply strong feeling but may suggest some regret, reluctance, or weakness.

relinquished her crown

When is it sensible to use surrender instead of resign?

The words surrender and resign can be used in similar contexts, but surrender implies a giving up after a struggle to retain or resist.

surrendered their claims

Where would waive be a reasonable alternative to resign?

The meanings of waive and resign largely overlap; however, waive implies conceding or forgoing with little or no compulsion.

waived the right to a trial by jury

When can yield be used instead of resign?

The words yield and resign are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, yield implies concession or compliance or submission to force.

the troops yielded ground grudgingly

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 resign But others didn’t come out unscathed; a University of Virginia president resigned under political pressure, while schools such as Brown and Columbia chose to strike deals with the White House. Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 29 Oct. 2025 Zwerner is suing Parker, who resigned after the shooting. Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 29 Oct. 2025 In May 2024, Voigt, 25, became the first winner to do so, and days later, Miss Teen USA 2023 UmaSofia Srivastava resigned from her title as well. Zoey Lyttle, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025 The top opinion page editor resigned. David Folkenflik, NPR, 28 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for resign
Recent Examples of Synonyms for resign
Verb
  • Traditional media often abdicated those communities.
    David Wingrave, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025
  • The last time this protocol was used was when Edward VIII abdicated in 1936.
    Lauren Said-Moorhouse, CNN Money, 22 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Prior to his takeover, the sister pageants suffered some shakeups, most notably after the 2023 adult and junior winners, Miss USA Noelia Voigt and Miss Teen USA UmaSofia Srivastav, relinquished their titles.
    Zoey Lyttle, PEOPLE, 27 Oct. 2025
  • This incident comes just days after Prince Andrew relinquished his remaining royal titles.
    Lauryn Overhultz, FOXNews.com, 27 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The revelations about the emails led to both Andrew and Sarah renouncing their Duke and Duchess of York titles in the past two weeks.
    Martha Ross, Mercury News, 28 Oct. 2025
  • Comedian Bill Maher suggests New York City Mayoral Candidate Zohran Mamdani should renounce his Ugandan dual citizenship over the country’s record on LGBTQ+ rights, and slams the democratic candidate for his recent meeting with a New York Imam, also criticized for his stance on gay rights.
    The Hill, The Hill, 27 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Resign.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/resign. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.

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