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

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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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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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 renounce

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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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

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 Over the years, questions about the evidence against Smith emerged as a witness recanted, Lowden repudiated his earlier statement implicating Smith, and another man claimed responsibility for Hart's killing. — Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 21 Aug. 2026 That agreement soon unravelled with Trump making new conditions in public and the Saudis repudiating them. — Melik Kaylan, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026 Democrats have this one chance to repudiate the democratic socialists who are striving to define and control their party. — Colin Pascal, Baltimore Sun, 20 July 2026 In 2018, the court unequivocally repudiated its wartime decision that denigrated Japanese Americans. — Tom Campbell, Oc Register, 4 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for repudiate

Recent Examples of Synonyms for repudiate

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

Verb

Gee refused to budge, saying the 10-year ban was firm and accusing the national organizations of encouraging the break.

— Brittany Shammas, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2026
In one instance, a Minnesota hotel that refused to let immigration officers stay there in January apologized after public criticism from DHS, saying the decision violated its internal policies.

— Anthony Izaguirre, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of refuse

Verb

Quebec voters have twice rejected independence, most recently by a razor-thin margin in a 1995 referendum.

— ABC News, ABC News, 17 Oct. 2026
For countries that rejected the open international order, as the axis countries do today, the benefits were far fewer and the penalties considerable.

— Andrea Kendall-Taylor, Foreign Affairs, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of reject

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

The app then connects them with a doctor who will confirm or refute AI’s initial findings within three minutes.

— Alana Semuels, Time, 15 Oct. 2026
Others describe the studies necessary to replicate, refute or refine these advances and ensure the necessary scientific rigor to successfully discover and develop new drugs.

— Fred D. Ledley, The Conversation, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of refute

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

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

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

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Synonyms of repudiate

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