waive

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.

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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 waive Officials are also discussing waiving the tariff on aircraft leasing. Arkansas Online, 3 May 2025 But the plan waives interest on certain payments, and parents receive a $50 discount on their monthly student loan payment per child. Annie Nova, CNBC, 1 May 2025 Bleacher Report's Tim Kelly recently predicted Arenado would waive his no-trade clause for a deal to the New York Yankees this season. Zach Pressnell, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 May 2025 The plan waives unpaid interest and provides a credit to principal to ensure borrowers who keep up with their payments pay down their balances over time. Preston Cooper, Forbes.com, 30 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for waive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for waive
Verb
  • At the very least, there’s no denying that Stewart has artistic conviction.
    Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 23 May 2025
  • The Boise City Council denied that appeal in April in a 4-1 vote, with Council Member Luci Willits the lone dissenter.
    Nick Rosenberger, Idaho Statesman, 23 May 2025
Verb
  • In the end, Piastri was forced to relinquish second place too as his teammate Lando Norris swept past him on newer, faster tires once all the cars had bunched up at the end of the race behind the safety car.
    Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 18 May 2025
  • There are any number of reasons why owners may choose to relinquish a pet.
    Jack Beresford, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Waive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/waive. Accessed 27 May. 2025.

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