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 Public commenters gave a mixed reaction to Bass’ brush with law enforcement — some called on him to resign while others expressed their support for him. Ishani Desai, Sacbee.com, 22 Oct. 2025 The Diet convened for an extraordinary session to elect Takaichi, who took over after Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba resigned with his cabinet earlier in the morning. Chad De Guzman, Time, 21 Oct. 2025 Two additional would resign, as they were convinced that the new board could not work together. Eric Adler, Kansas City Star, 21 Oct. 2025 John Elkann, a member of the Agnelli family whose roots with Ferrari go back to the company's early days, became chairman of the company after Marchionne fell ill and resigned. Eileen Falkenberg-Hull, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 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
  • Royalist émigrés began to trickle back into the country in 1795, and a number of Jacobins who renounced their earlier radicalism were also reintegrated into civil society.
    Time, Time, 21 Oct. 2025
  • Hamas members who renounce violence will be granted amnesty or safe passage, while those who continue resistance will be excluded from Gaza’s future governance.
    Morgan Phillips, FOXNews.com, 13 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Resign.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/resign. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.

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