Synonyms of waive

waive

verb

as in to deny

to officially say that you will not use or require something that you are allowed to have or that is usually required

She waived her right to a lawyer.

The university waives the application fee for low-income students.

Synonyms & Similar Words

• deny
• relinquish
• cede
• disclaim
• surrender
• disavow
• renounce
• resign
• abjure
• disown
• abdicate
• demit
• forsake
• vacate
• abandon
• abnegate
• step down (from)
• step aside (from)
• yield
• hand over
• give up
• desert
• quit

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• assume
• claim
• appropriate
• protect
• confiscate
• seize
• defend
• take over
• arrogate
• safeguard
• secure
• usurp
• guard
• wrest

Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of waive are abandon, relinquish, resign, surrender, and yield. While all these words mean "to give up completely," waive implies conceding or forgoing with little or no compulsion.

waived the right to a trial by jury

When is it sensible to use abandon instead of waive?

The synonyms abandon and waive are sometimes interchangeable, but abandon stresses finality and completeness in giving up.

abandoned all hope

When is relinquish a more appropriate choice than waive?

The words relinquish and waive are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, relinquish usually does not imply strong feeling but may suggest some regret, reluctance, or weakness.

relinquished her crown

When might resign be a better fit than waive?

In some situations, the words resign and waive are roughly equivalent. However, resign emphasizes voluntary relinquishment or sacrifice without struggle.

resigned her position

When could surrender be used to replace waive?

While the synonyms surrender and waive are close in meaning, surrender implies a giving up after a struggle to retain or resist.

surrendered their claims

Where would yield be a reasonable alternative to waive?

The words yield and waive can be used in similar contexts, but yield implies concession or compliance or submission to force.

the troops yielded ground grudgingly

Examples Sentences

Recent Examples of waive

The 14-year-old accused of killing four and wounding nine others during the mass shooting at the Georgia high school on Sept. 4 also has waived an arraignment hearing that had been scheduled for Nov. 21, according to court papers filed by his attorney. —Greg Norman, Fox News, 23 Oct. 2024

The Warriors are also waiving Jackson Rowe and Blake Hinson. —Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 19 Oct. 2024

If no other payment relief option exists to address the hardship, the Secretary could waive the loan. —Brett Rowland | The Center Square, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 27 Oct. 2024

Gray also waived his formal arraignment, according to court documents filed by his defense attorney Alfonso Kraft Jr. Gray is accused of fatally shooting two 14-year-old students, Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo, and two math teachers, Richard Aspinwall and Cristina Irimie, on September 4. —Devon M. Sayers, CNN, 22 Oct. 2024