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 León Krauze, who anchored Univision’s late-night newscast, resigned in 2023, notably less than a week after Televisa journalist Enrique Acevedo conducted a nearly hour-long, nonconfrontational interview with Trump. Andrea Flores, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2025 Many other high-profile company leaders have resigned. Patrick George, The Atlantic, 18 June 2025 On May 13, UnitedHealth Group said that CEO Andrew Witty had resigned for personal reasons. John Dorfman, Forbes.com, 16 June 2025 For example, ​​the acting U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York and almost a dozen other lawyers were either forced to resign or chose to leave their posts over the DOJ's handling of the Eric Adams corruption case. Sophie Clark shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for resign
Recent Examples of Synonyms for resign
Verb
  • That use of focus group testing earned criticism that studio execs were abdicating their creative responsibilities when making and releasing movies, but Freeman maintained hard data was crucial to reassuring the major studios and reaching cinema audiences.
    Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 19 June 2025
  • Earlier, King Philippe's grandfather, King Leopold III, also abdicated in 1951 amid a political crisis to safeguard the monarchy.
    Janine Henni, People.com, 18 June 2025
Verb
  • Do it, talk to each other, ask questions, reach out to members, and remember that no one has ever relinquished power willingly, even for things as small as better hours, or more holiday time.
    James Folta, Literary Hub, 24 June 2025
  • Jean-Baptiste Voisin, chief strategy officer at LVMH, relinquished his responsibilities as head of LVMH Métiers d’Art and will now take on leadership of LVMH Media Research and Brand Image teams, previously helmed by Mathilde Delhoume, who is also taking on new responsibilities.
    Miles Socha, Footwear News, 23 June 2025
Verb
  • The justices who renounced that lie in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Center exposed themselves to scurrilous criticisms and even threats to their safety.
    The Editors, National Review, 24 June 2025
  • Syria's new government, led by a former affiliate of ISIS and Al-Qaeda who has renounced jihadi ties in recent years, has vowed to continue efforts to battle ISIS.
    Tom O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Resign.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/resign. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.

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