1
as in to relinquish
to give up (as a position of authority) formally
abnegated all claims to the deceased lord's domain
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to renounce
to solemnly or formally reject or go back on (as something formerly adhered to)
felt that if the Congress adopted these security measures, it would be abnegating the nation's fundamental commitment to individual rights
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 abnegate
Her sins are the sins of loving too much and in too self-abnegating a fashion.
—
Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 14 Mar. 2023
Abnegating this responsibility is going against the will of the people and we were voted in to protect the interests of the people.
—Jan Engoren, Sun-Sentinel.com, 6 July 2017
Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 14 Mar. 2023
Abnegating this responsibility is going against the will of the people and we were voted in to protect the interests of the people.
—Jan Engoren, Sun-Sentinel.com, 6 July 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abnegate
Verb
-
Jones is not relinquishing his strong negotiating position Jones and Parsons would meet in March to discuss the linebacker’s role on the team going forward.—
Steve Silverman,
Forbes.com,
23 Aug. 2025
-
While a strong federal government may be central to the Democratic Party's identity, maintaining that objective likely requires relinquishing control from the capital and encouraging state politicos to explore new ways to achieve success.—
Alex J. Rouhandeh,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
As conditions for a ceasefire and the start of talks, Putin has demanded Ukraine withdraw its forces from four regions that Russia has claimed as its own but does not fully control, and formally renounce plans to join NATO.—
Catarina Demony,
USA Today,
14 Aug. 2025
-
The Spanish government recently renounced U.S. aircraft purchases and resisted intense pressure to commit to NATO’s new 5% defense spending target, while seeking closer economic ties with China.—
Sam Meredith,
CNBC,
12 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
So far, however, Trump’s allies in Congress have almost wholly abdicated this role, and although lower courts have issued injunctions against some of the administration’s actions and policies, the Supreme Court has repeatedly found ways to expand executive power.—
MICHAEL JOHNSTON,
Foreign Affairs,
6 Aug. 2025
-
However, don’t bypass all the details and abdicate your leadership. 4.—
Anne Sugar,
Forbes.com,
23 July 2025
Verb
-
However, less than a day later, the foundation withdrew its support.—
Louis Casiano,
FOXNews.com,
23 Aug. 2025
-
Retzlaff withdrew from school, eventually landing at Tulane.—
The Athletic College Football Staff,
New York Times,
22 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
When Sasse abruptly resigned as president last July, citing his wife’s health issues, the majority of his cabinet staff – including Schwinn – were not reappointed, the Florida Independent Alligator reported.—
Vivian Jones,
The Tennessean,
21 Aug. 2025
-
Guede became the second Mexican head coach on the sidelines after Gonzalo Pineda resigned from Atlas earlier this month.—
Michael Lewis,
Forbes.com,
19 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Wind and road noise were nicely muted with the top up, and thanks to the 911’s sleek figure and retracting wind deflector—which doesn’t automatically deploy, thankfully—wind noise was impressively muffled at highway pace.—
Peter Nelson,
Forbes.com,
25 Aug. 2025
-
Detroit subsequently retracted a three-year, $42 million contract offer to Beasley.—
Mike Vorkunov,
New York Times,
22 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Schoemann denied any wrongdoing, saying the county engaged in a nontraditional but widely publicized process seeking ideas for the property and the school's $3 million proposal was the best financial option.—
Kelly Meyerhofer,
jsonline.com,
28 Aug. 2025
-
Attorneys for the team’s management will have the chance to answer the complaint and deny the allegations.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
27 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has responded to the American Academy of Pediatrics' decision to release its own vaccine recommendations that contradict federal guidance.—
Mary Walrath-Holdridge,
USA Today,
21 Aug. 2025
-
No one at the Department of Motor Vehicles contradicted him.—
Mark Pazniokas,
Hartford Courant,
18 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Abnegate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abnegate. Accessed 4 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share