Synonyms of repudiate

repudiate

verb

ri-ˈpyü-dē-ˌāt 

1

as in to deny

to declare not to be true

vigorously repudiated the charge that she had lied on her résumé

Synonyms & Similar Words

• deny
• reject
• refute
• contradict
• disavow
• disown
• disclaim
• disallow
• negate
• disaffirm
• gainsay
• negative
• disconfirm
• disprove
• traverse
• rebut
• challenge
• disagree (with)
• dispute
• confute

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• acknowledge
• admit
• allow
• confirm
• accept
• concede
• own
• adopt
• embrace
• submit
• maintain
• assert
• declare
• claim
• affirm
• avow
• announce
• profess
• espouse
• verify
• validate
• substantiate
• aver
• corroborate
• authenticate

2

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• deny
• refuse
• disavow
• refute
• disown
• disclaim
• reject
• criticize
• contradict
• disprove
• renounce
• gainsay
• disallow
• wash one's hands of
• negate
• confute
• retract
• rebut
• challenge
• question
• recant
• abdicate
• abjure
• negative
• dispute

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• recognize
• acknowledge
• accept
• claim
• adopt
• own
• embrace
• admit
• grant
• avow
• concede
• confess
• submit
• maintain
• assert
• affirm
• declare
• announce
• espouse
• confirm
• verify
• validate
• substantiate
• profess
• aver
• corroborate
• authenticate

3

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• reject
• refuse
• decline
• ignore
• deny
• spurn
• withdraw
• dismiss
• disapprove
• avoid
• pass
• veto
• dispute
• pass up
• turn down
• forbid
• throw over
• deselect
• balk (at)
• reprobate
• throw out
• negative
• nix
• renounce
• disavow
• overrule
• proscribe
• rebuff
• prohibit
• retract
• disdain
• scorn
• refute
• revoke
• forbear
• disclaim
• abjure
• contradict
• recant
• turn one's back on
• blow off
• gainsay
• forswear
• disown
• foreswear
• scout
• refrain (from)
• shoot down
• recall
• abstain (from)
• controvert
• disprove
• take back
• rebut
• unsay
• negate
• stick
• disagree (with)
• renege
• disallow
• bypass
• backtrack
• back down
• detour
• back off

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• accept
• approve
• agree (to)
• tolerate
• adopt
• receive
• take
• swallow
• condone
• embrace
• agree
• welcome
• acquiesce
• countenance
• accede
• choose
• consent
• assent
• select
• support
• espouse
• handpick

4

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• withdraw
• retract
• renounce
• deny
• contradict
• refute
• abandon
• relinquish
• repeal
• recant
• forswear
• abjure
• renege
• take back
• foreswear
• disavow
• unsay
• abnegate
• disown
• spurn
• forsake
• recall
• disclaim
• gainsay
• negate
• disprove
• controvert
• revoke
• disagree (with)
• rebut
• surrender
• dispute
• negative
• disallow
• give up
• backtrack
• back down
• back off
• bolt

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• acknowledge
• maintain
• assert
• declare
• claim
• affirm
• admit
• adhere (to)
• contend
• proclaim
• state
• defend
• support
• profess
• confirm
• endorse
• accept
• uphold
• adopt
• avow
• embrace
• vow
• back
• vouch
• indorse
• espouse

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

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of repudiate

Oldham also relies on a concurring opinion, by Fifth Circuit Judge Edith Jones, which the Supreme Court repudiated last spring. —Ian Millhiser, Vox, 19 Mar. 2025

The American Psychological Association, the American Psychiatric Association, the National Association for Social Workers and other leading medical groups have all repudiated the practice. —Maureen Groppe, USA TODAY, 10 Mar. 2025

But the negro resents and utterly repudiates the effort to blacken his good name by asserting that assaults upon women are peculiar to his race. —Liz Tracey, JSTOR Daily, 21 Feb. 2025

Democratic politicians and prosecutors threw the book at Trump only to be roundly repudiated by voters. —Clive Crook, Twin Cities, 8 Feb. 2025

Podcast

Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox!