renege

verb

re·​nege ri-ˈneg 

 also  -ˈnāg,

-ˈnig;

rē- 

reneged; reneging

intransitive verb

1

: to go back on a promise or commitment

2

: revoke

3

obsolete : to make a denial

transitive verb

: deny, renounce

reneger noun

Synonyms

• back down
• back off
• back out
• cop out
• fink out

Examples of renege in a Sentence

They had promised to pay her tuition but later reneged.

my so-called best friend promised to help me move, only to renege come Saturday morning

Recent Examples on the Web

As the stock market tumbled, Trump reneged on the tariffs days later. —Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA Today, 4 May 2025

In 2010, Kimmel made an appearance on Leno's show and called him out for his decision to renege on his promise to hand over The Tonight Show to Conan O'Brien. —Esther Kang, People.com, 25 Apr. 2025

Economic tides have shifted, climate commitments have been reneged, and public trust in corporations continues to erode under the weight of broken promises. —Alexander Puutio, Forbes.com, 22 Apr. 2025

However, reneging on the U.S. aircraft deal threatens to sour ties even further and could undermine the neighbors' security relationship. —Mark Davis, Newsweek, 15 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Medieval Latin renegare

First Known Use

1548, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Rhymes for renege

• big
• brig
• brigg
• dig
• fig
• gig
• jig
• mig
• pig
• prig
• rig
• sprig

Kids Definition

renege

verb

re·​nege ri-ˈnig  -ˈneg 

-ˈnēg,

-ˈnāg

reneged; reneging

1

: deny

2

: to go back on a promise or agreement

reneged on paying the debt

reneger noun