Synonym Chooser

How is the word relegate distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of relegate are commit, confide, consign, and entrust. While all these words mean "to assign to a person or place for a definite purpose," relegate implies a consigning to a particular class or sphere often with a suggestion of getting rid of.

relegated to an obscure position in the company

Where would commit be a reasonable alternative to relegate?

While in some cases nearly identical to relegate, commit may express the general idea of delivering into another's charge or the special sense of transferring to a superior power or to a special place of custody.

committed the felon to prison

When is it sensible to use confide instead of relegate?

Although the words confide and relegate have much in common, confide implies entrusting with great assurance or reliance.

confided complete control of my affairs to my attorney

When could consign be used to replace relegate?

In some situations, the words consign and relegate are roughly equivalent. However, consign suggests removing from one's control with formality or finality.

consigned the damaging notes to the fire

When might entrust be a better fit than relegate?

While the synonyms entrust and relegate are close in meaning, entrust implies committing with trust and confidence.

the president is entrusted with broad powers

Examples 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 relegate That led people to relegate voice assistants to simple tasks like setting cooking timers, playing music or controlling their lights. Richard Nieva, Forbes, 2 Jan. 2025 Adidas also has the option of terminating the £90million a year deal at one full season’s notice if United are relegated. Philip Buckingham, The Athletic, 31 Dec. 2024 Advertisement This winning template spawned fears among conservatives that Latinos — especially Mexican Americans — were engaging in a conspiracy to relegate white people to second-class status, and hopes among Democrats for a permanent majority. Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 30 Dec. 2024 He was concerned as a boy that even an iota of doubt could lead him to a different fate, relegating him to an eternity separated from his family, particularly his parents. Rick Rojas, New York Times, 29 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for relegate 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for relegate
Verb
  • Inhumans does not exactly seem like MCU canon as it has more or less been banished from existence, despite attachment to Agents of SHIELD, outside of a brief cameo in Multiverse of Madness for Anson Mount’s Black Bolt (who was promptly murdered).
    Paul Tassi, Forbes, 4 Jan. 2025
  • To banish household odors, create natural room scents, carpet powders, reed diffusers, and plug-in refills.
    Linley Sanders, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • And our findings have broader implications for how species are classified and protected under conservation laws.
    Andre A. Naranjo, The Conversation, 6 Jan. 2025
  • Not a nor'easter Monday's snowstorm will not be classified as a classic nor'easter, Taylor said, which are some of the most infamous winter storms for East Coasters.
    Doyle Rice, USA TODAY, 6 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • In Act 4, Prospero, the former Duke of Milan who has been exiled to a desert island with daughter Miranda, and his magic book, interrupts his revenge scheme to conjure a supernatural theatrical pageant in honor of the engagement of Miranda and Ferdinand, the son of the king of Naples.
    Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 13 Jan. 2025
  • As a result, its people have been imprisoned, exiled, and murdered.
    Keith Gessen, The New Yorker, 10 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • McCutchen ranks in the franchise’s career top 10 in several categories, including home runs (fourth, 235) and RBIs (seventh, 818).
    LaMond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 14 Jan. 2025
  • Keys ranks second in that count, with 24 top 10s, while Gerald Levert and R. Kelly share the third-place mark, at 22 each.
    Trevor Anderson, Billboard, 14 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Skeptics note that Mexican authorities have traditionally done little to assist Mexican nationals who are daily deported or otherwise repatriated to Mexico — beyond welcoming them and offering free or discounted bus fare back to their areas of origin.
    Patrick J. McDonnell, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2025
  • But he’s also promised to impose massive tariffs and deport millions of immigrants who lack permanent legal status — a move that could reignite inflation and dampen economic growth, some forecasters say.
    Rebecca Morin, USA TODAY, 8 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Metal railings or a charred brick chimney were all that remained to distinguish the ashen piles.
    Connor Sheets, Los Angeles Times, 9 Jan. 2025
  • Learn some of the identifying features of each bird and distinguish similar-looking species from each other.
    Joe Rassel, Orlando Sentinel, 9 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • To put it in simplest terms, quadrants are a way to separate and weigh games depending on where they were played, who they were played against, and the expected winning percentage against an opponent’s NET ranking.
    Mark Schindler, The Athletic, 10 Jan. 2025
  • French Press: The French press is a pot with that steeps the coffee grounds before separating it with a plunger.
    Katlyn Moncada, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • To categorize these words as solely Gen Z or Gen Alpha slang misrepresents their history, and over-simplifies the way in which language evolves and grows.
    Kara Nesvig, Parents, 15 Jan. 2025
  • Buildings with more than 50% destruction are categorized as destroyed.
    Yoonserk Pyun, USA TODAY, 14 Jan. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near relegate

Cite this Entry

“Relegate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/relegate. Accessed 19 Jan. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on relegate

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