abnegate

verb

ˈab-ni-ˌgāt How to pronounce abnegate (audio)
Definition of abnegatenext
1
as in to relinquish
to give up (as a position of authority) formally abnegated all claims to the deceased lord's domain

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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

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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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abnegate
  1. relinquish
  2. renounce
  3. abdicate
  4. withdraw
  5. resign
  6. retract
  7. deny
Verb
  • She was only forced to relinquish the title when she was drafted to the Raw brand.
    — Ryan Gaydos OutKick, FOXNews.com, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Moon, meanwhile, is struggling at school but on the precipice of adulthood; as the young woman begins to make her own decisions in life, Yue must relinquish a degree of maternal responsibility.
    — Guy Lodge, Variety, 11 Oct. 2026
Definition of relinquish
Verb
  • Irma is not going to resolve her dilemma by having sex or cutting loose, nor by renouncing such pastimes and doubling down on intellect.
    — B. D. McClay, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Although economic espionage is not without risk, unilaterally renouncing the practice in the current global environment is far more dangerous.
    — DAVID S. COHEN, Foreign Affairs, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of renounce
Verb
  • After both sisters had abdicated planning the memorial, logistical matters—the casket and its transport, the readings, and, yes, the flowers—had fallen to the front desk volunteer of a church my grandmother no longer attended.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 30 Sep. 2026
  • Now, the Department has decided that obedience supersedes all else, requiring us to abdicate our legal and ethical obligations in favor of directions from Washington.
    — Eyal Press, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of abdicate
Verb
  • On Monday, Chinese manufacturer Kepuni Holdings withdrew plans for a Nasdaq listing that had been expected to raise $15 million.
    — Morgan Chittum, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2026
  • In these situations, withdrawing into a literal or symbolic dark room—avoiding sources of stress and going to a safe place—can be adaptive in the short term.
    — Maia Szalavitz, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of withdraw
Verb
  • The officer, Shadrack Sibiya, resigned from the police service earlier this month following his arrest in September.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 20 Oct. 2026
  • The debate intensified after Anthropic researcher Jacob Coxon resigned in September, publicly warning about the dangers of unchecked AI development.
    — Ella Chakarian, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of resign
Verb
  • To be more explicit, the owners, as represented by the league, will not retract their salary cap proposal simply because we are now guaranteed a low-payroll team will win the World Series.
    — Hannah Keyser, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2026
  • In warmer months, the wall of floor-to-ceiling windows between dining room and terrace retracts such that the whole place is open to the warm breeze coming off the water.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of retract
Verb
  • This month, it was denied access to the plane for a trip to Georgia and Florida.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 21 Oct. 2026
  • In response, Amy Helm accused Parillo of financial exploitation and elder abuse of Sandra Helm in a June court filing; Parillo denied those charges.
    — Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of deny

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Cite this Entry

“Abnegate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abnegate. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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