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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

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 Mamdani’s rise and the failure of Democratic Party leaders to repudiate Mamdani’s antisemitic statements is accelerating a Jewish exit from the Democratic camp. Nathan Diament, New York Daily News, 7 Aug. 2025 His failure to repudiate this culture shows that Persian ethno-nationalism still festers within the political class that claims to offer an alternative. Jila Andalib, Hartford Courant, 28 July 2025 Moscow repudiated responsibility which angered Baku further. Melik Kaylan, Forbes.com, 10 July 2025 In 2016, Trump pledged to renegotiate the treaty, but broke that promise by simply repudiating it. Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 24 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for repudiate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for repudiate
Verb
  • South Korea had its three best attackers denied by European clubs.
    Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Sep. 2025
  • Judge Stark denied Blue Water’s request to extend the timeline, but did give the company access to the Citgo data room used in the process, which doesn’t entirely shut the door on Hernandez’s firm.
    Jordan Blum, Fortune, 19 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The Supreme Court deemed unconstitutional the line-item veto in 1998, by which former President Bill Clinton unilaterally refused to spend money appropriated for particular purposes.
    Kevin R. Kosar, The Washington Examiner, 19 Sep. 2025
  • In June, the Democratic group of senators accused the Department of Education of refusing to comply with Warren's monthslong congressional investigation into what, if any, records have been accessed by DOGE employees that could be sensitive.
    Arthur Jones II, ABC News, 19 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • In July 2007, he was traded to the Atlanta Braves after rejecting an eight-year, $140 million contract extension.
    Taylor Millard, The Washington Examiner, 19 Sep. 2025
  • Ukrainians overwhelmingly reject ceding territory.
    Oleksandra Matviichuk, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Duncan even contemplated mounting a third-party challenge to Trump as a No Labels candidate last year before withdrawing his name from consideration.
    Samantha-Jo Roth, The Washington Examiner, 16 Sep. 2025
  • The Biden administration had weighed withdrawing antitrust immunity for the joint venture, which began in 2016.
    Leslie Josephs, CNBC, 16 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Szymon Laks, conductor of one of several male orchestras at Auschwitz-Birkenau, vehemently refuted the notion that music was helpful to anyone in the camp.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 17 Sep. 2025
  • Ghana’s officials refuted the claims of the lawyers, saying the individuals were returned to their home nations.
    Filip Timotija, The Hill, 16 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Local police sought to have an alert sent out the Friday before they were found dead, but the agency that manages the program in Washington state declined to do so.
    Matt Lavietes, NBC news, 19 Sep. 2025
  • Investors eventually demanded their money back, causing Artamonov to return less than $400,000 by paying original investors with money from new investors or by declining to reimburse them at all, the indictment said.
    Dave Smith, Fortune, 19 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Twist the powertrain mode knob to Track, watch the digital dash retract itself to give you a cleaner view, then activate Launch mode via a console button, and prepare to have your sense of speed lightly warped.
    Sean Evans, Robb Report, 9 Sep. 2025
  • The idea is to use the simple, robust components highlighted in the study to build systems that can extend quickly, latch or grasp with precision, and retract reliably.
    Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 9 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The term describes the conscious decision to avoid or renounce managerial roles in order to preserve mental health, maintain balance and prioritize meaningful work.
    Jose Luis Gonzalez Rodriguez, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
  • Advertisement Lee also renounced any concept of gender roles, longing for full social equality regardless of gender or race.
    Barry Levitt, Time, 10 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Repudiate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/repudiate. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on repudiate

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