FORSWEAR Synonyms: 64 Similar and Opposite Words

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

Some common synonyms of forswear are abjure , recant , renounce , and retract . While all these words mean "to withdraw one's word or professed belief," forswear may add an implication of perjury or betrayal. // I cannot forswear my principles

Q: When might 'abjure' be a better fit than 'forswear'?

The words abjure and forswear can be used in similar contexts, but abjure implies a firm and final rejecting or abandoning often made under oath. // abjured the errors of his former faith

Q: When would 'recant' be a good substitute for 'forswear'?

While in some cases nearly identical to forswear , recant stresses the withdrawing or denying of something professed or taught. // if they recant they will be spared

Q: When can 'renounce' be used instead of 'forswear'?

In some situations, the words renounce and forswear are roughly equivalent. However, renounce may carry the meaning of disclaim or disown. // renounced abstract art and turned to portrait painting

Q: When is 'retract' a more appropriate choice than 'forswear'?

The synonyms retract and forswear are sometimes interchangeable, but retract applies to the withdrawing of a promise, an offer, or an accusation. // the newspaper had to retract the story

forswear

verb

fȯr-ˈswer

variants also foreswear

Definition of forswear

as in to renounce

to solemnly or formally reject or go back on (as something formerly adhered to) the new government would have to forswear the use of torture if it wished to be granted full diplomatic recognition

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

Some common synonyms of forswear are abjure, recant, renounce, and retract. While all these words mean "to withdraw one's word or professed belief," forswear may add an implication of perjury or betrayal.

I cannot forswear my principles

When might abjure be a better fit than forswear?

The words abjure and forswear can be used in similar contexts, but abjure implies a firm and final rejecting or abandoning often made under oath.

abjured the errors of his former faith

When would recant be a good substitute for forswear?

While in some cases nearly identical to forswear, recant stresses the withdrawing or denying of something professed or taught.

if they recant they will be spared

When can renounce be used instead of forswear?

In some situations, the words renounce and forswear are roughly equivalent. However, renounce may carry the meaning of disclaim or disown.

renounced abstract art and turned to portrait painting

When is retract a more appropriate choice than forswear?

The synonyms retract and forswear are sometimes interchangeable, but retract applies to the withdrawing of a promise, an offer, or an accusation.

the newspaper had to retract the story

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 forswear These talented women are allowing their faces to age, more or less, visibly (and naturally) but refuse to forswear their highlights. — Valerie Monroe, Allure, 25 Mar. 2026 In France, the National Rally party of Marine Le Pen—who is notably obsessed with cats—has talked up the healing power of touching animals (among other such positions) but will not forswear foie gras. — Daniel Engber, The Atlantic, 22 Feb. 2026 Three other Democrats previously in receipt of copious donations have similarly forsworn further AIPAC funding. — Andrew Cockburn, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025 Beijing, in other words, got Washington to forswear one of its best economic tools just as China was wielding its own leverage. — Mira Rapp-Hooper, Foreign Affairs, 29 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for forswear

Recent Examples of Synonyms for forswear

Verb

Know More Andrews wants the party to embrace term limits and renounce congressional stock trading and corporate contributions.

— Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 3 Sep. 2026
Eric Lai, a senior fellow with the Georgetown Center for Asian Law, said every actor in Hong Kong civil society who assumed that renouncing violence and working within the law would be fine has to revise that assumption.

— Kanis Leung, Los Angeles Times, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of renounce

Verb

When combined with a hot blanket of the humidity the city has endured throughout the summer, players could be forced to withdraw from their matches or push through, risking injury.

— Aaron Short, Curbed, 3 Sep. 2026
Although the proposal will remain on Thursday’s agenda because of the 72-hour posting requirement, Kayatta said it will effectively be withdrawn during the meeting with authorization from Board President Tara Jeane.

— Chaewon Chung, Sacbee.com, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of withdraw

Verb

The study was found to be fraudulent; eventually, it was retracted entirely.

— Ruby Cramer, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026
So far, no cinema chains have seemingly gone along with the boycott (NewsCord falsely reported one was going to ban the film, then retracted the claim).

— James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of retract

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for sure

forswear

forswearing

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“Forswear.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/forswear. Accessed 7 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of forswear

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