REPUDIATE Synonyms: 139 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'repudiate' different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of repudiate are decline , refuse , reject , and spurn . While all these words mean "to turn away by not accepting, receiving, or considering," repudiate implies a casting off or disowning as untrue, unauthorized, or unworthy of acceptance. // teenagers who repudiate the values of their parents

Q: When can 'decline' be used instead of 'repudiate'?

The words decline and repudiate can be used in similar contexts, but decline often implies courteous refusal especially of offers or invitations. // declined his party's nomination

Q: When is it sensible to use 'refuse' instead of 'repudiate'?

While in some cases nearly identical to repudiate , refuse suggests more positiveness or ungraciousness and often implies the denial of something asked for. // refused to lend them the money

Q: Where would 'reject' be a reasonable alternative to 'repudiate'?

The words reject and repudiate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, reject implies a peremptory refusal by sending away or discarding. // rejected the manuscript as unpublishable

Q: When is 'spurn' a more appropriate choice than 'repudiate'?

In some situations, the words spurn and repudiate are roughly equivalent. However, spurn stresses contempt or disdain in rejection or repudiation. // spurned his overtures of friendship

repudiate

verb

ri-ˈpyü-dē-ˌāt

Definition of repudiate next

as in to deny

to declare not to be true vigorously repudiated the charge that she had lied on her résumé

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to refuse

to refuse to acknowledge as one's own or as one's responsibility the angry mother bitterly repudiated her teenaged daughter, telling her that she never wanted to see or hear from her again

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to reject

to show unwillingness to accept, do, engage in, or agree to we didn't like the terms, so we repudiated the contract

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as in to withdraw

to solemnly or formally reject or go back on (as something formerly adhered to) the producers of the hit TV show threatened to take the disgruntled actor to court if he attempted to repudiate his contract

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of repudiate are decline, refuse, reject, and spurn. While all these words mean "to turn away by not accepting, receiving, or considering," repudiate implies a casting off or disowning as untrue, unauthorized, or unworthy of acceptance.

teenagers who repudiate the values of their parents

When can decline be used instead of repudiate?

The words decline and repudiate can be used in similar contexts, but decline often implies courteous refusal especially of offers or invitations.

declined his party's nomination

When is it sensible to use refuse instead of repudiate?

While in some cases nearly identical to repudiate, refuse suggests more positiveness or ungraciousness and often implies the denial of something asked for.

refused to lend them the money

Where would reject be a reasonable alternative to repudiate?

The words reject and repudiate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, reject implies a peremptory refusal by sending away or discarding.

rejected the manuscript as unpublishable

When is spurn a more appropriate choice than repudiate?

In some situations, the words spurn and repudiate are roughly equivalent. However, spurn stresses contempt or disdain in rejection or repudiation.

spurned his overtures of friendship

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 repudiate Hinchcliffe’s words equating Puerto Rico to an oceanic garbage patch — since repudiated by the Trump campaign by a spokeswoman — could hurt that effort by pushing Republicans such as Cintrón to withhold their vote from Trump. —

Rafael Bernal, The Hill, 29 Oct. 2024 Like those rulings, it will sooner or later be repudiated, either by a future Supreme Court or through a Constitutional amendment. —

Stephen Woolpert, The Mercury News, 3 Oct. 2024 Clark herself repudiates this narrative, but racists aren’t listening. —

Susan M. Shaw, Forbes, 4 Oct. 2024 Decent, good-hearted people of all political persuasions can join together with their fellow Americans to repudiate fear-mongering and scapegoating by voting in massive numbers for Democrats up and down the ballot. —

Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 20 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for repudiate

Recent Examples of Synonyms for repudiate

Verb

Donald Trump's second inauguration will be a triumphant return for a former president many believed to be permanently barred from Washington four years ago after denying his 2020 election loss.

Phillip M. Bailey, USA TODAY, 13 Dec. 2024
Trump has denied the affair and pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 12 Dec. 2024