Synonyms of waive

waive

verb

as in to deny

to officially say that you will not use or require something that you are allowed to have or that is usually required

She waived her right to a lawyer.

The university waives the application fee for low-income students.

Related Words

• deny
• relinquish
• cede
• disclaim
• surrender
• disavow
• renounce
• resign
• abjure
• disown
• abdicate
• demit
• forsake
• vacate
• abandon
• abnegate
• step down (from)
• step aside (from)
• yield
• hand over
• give up
• desert
• quit

Dissimilar Words

• assume
• claim
• appropriate
• protect
• confiscate
• seize
• defend
• take over
• arrogate
• safeguard
• secure
• usurp
• guard
• wrest

Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of waive are abandon, relinquish, resign, surrender, and yield. While all these words mean "to give up completely," waive implies conceding or forgoing with little or no compulsion.

waived the right to a trial by jury

When is it sensible to use abandon instead of waive?

The synonyms abandon and waive are sometimes interchangeable, but abandon stresses finality and completeness in giving up.

abandoned all hope

When is relinquish a more appropriate choice than waive?

The words relinquish and waive are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, relinquish usually does not imply strong feeling but may suggest some regret, reluctance, or weakness.

relinquished her crown

When might resign be a better fit than waive?

In some situations, the words resign and waive are roughly equivalent. However, resign emphasizes voluntary relinquishment or sacrifice without struggle.

resigned her position

When could surrender be used to replace waive?

While the synonyms surrender and waive are close in meaning, surrender implies a giving up after a struggle to retain or resist.

surrendered their claims

Where would yield be a reasonable alternative to waive?

The words yield and waive can be used in similar contexts, but yield implies concession or compliance or submission to force.

the troops yielded ground grudgingly

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of waive

Ramirez finds a new home The Galaxy waived Christian Ramirez and bought out his contract last week. —Damian Calhoun, Daily News, 27 Feb. 2026

Tong said as a result of his negotiations JRK agreed to pay those tenants who were displaced the longest — in buildings A, B and C — cash payments of $1,100 to $1,700 per unit depending on the number of residents; three months of free rent and waived water and utility bills for February. —Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 26 Feb. 2026

The way the cap is calculated isn’t straightforward, but by any measure, a combined Nexstar and Tegna would blitz through it, meaning that the cap would need to be waived, raised, or abolished for their merger to pass. —Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 26 Feb. 2026

The good news is that some tolls can be challenged or even waived, depending on the situation. —Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Feb. 2026