Definition of repudiatenext
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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 Fujimori sought to reassure voters by emphasizing democratic commitments and acknowledging abuses committed under her father’s government, though without fully repudiating his legacy. Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 May 2026 Cracks in church-state wall In his latest I-am-the-law crusade, Uthmeier is repudiating one of the most fundamental aspects of our democracy, the separation of church and state. Orlando Sentinel, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 Apr. 2026 For the Supreme Court to do so would require it to repudiate the Constitution’s text, the Court’s own precedents, and the enduring understanding of all three branches and of the American people. David Cole, The New York Review of Books, 4 Apr. 2026 Although the election was largely symbolic—the Texas legislature is currently not in session, and the candidates will run again in November—it was widely seen as evidence that voters were repudiating the current Republican agenda. Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 15 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for repudiate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for repudiate
Verb
  • His opponent claimed that created a conflict of interest, which Weiser denied.
    Jesse Sarles, CBS News, 1 July 2026
  • The two housekeepers denied having such a conversation with Brown, noting language differences would have made such a discussion unlikely.
    Chris Willman, Variety, 1 July 2026
Verb
  • Wurth saw two more physicians who refused to discuss hormones before a urologist started her on estrogen gel, oral progesterone and a vaginal estrogen cream.
    Laura Trujillo, USA Today, 30 June 2026
  • The man had a gun and refused to drop it when ordered to by police, the sheriff said.
    Angie DiMichele, Sun Sentinel, 30 June 2026
Verb
  • Those seeking to stop the roundup reject almost all of the federal agencies’ claims, from the size of the herd to the notion that the horses cause ecological damage.
    Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 30 June 2026
  • While state studies have criticized the state’s education governance model, voters have rejected at least four attempts dating back to 1928 to reform the position.
    Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 30 June 2026
Verb
  • What follows are dozens of examples of how those whose names are familiar (or aren’t) and legendary (or infamous) for their actions while representing the state have been embraced (or renounced) by the rest of the country and beyond.
    Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 29 June 2026
  • If the Lakers renounce all their free agents except for Reaves, hacking their books with machete, the team would have Dončić, Jared Vanderbilt, Jake LaRavia, Dalton Knecht, Bronny James (partial guarantee) and Adou Theiro under contract.
    Dan Woike, New York Times, 21 June 2026
Verb
  • Two other retired judges later published their own piece refuting Gilliard’s contention.
    Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 14 June 2026
  • Fortunately, video replay allows people to validate—or refute—a referee’s decision.
    Manon Bischoff, Scientific American, 13 June 2026
Verb
  • After years of declining sales, American Girl dolls are seeing a resurgence.
    Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 3 July 2026
  • In May, during a tense commission meeting, a majority of commissioners declined to give her a raise after her first year on the job.
    Amanda Rosa, Miami Herald, 3 July 2026
Verb
  • About 71 percent of the SPAC’s cash pool stayed in the merger rather than being withdrawn by investors.
    Camila Grigera Naón, Fortune, 2 July 2026
  • This means they can be revised or withdrawn without legislation.
    Virginia La Torre Jeker, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
Verb
  • The journal typically adds a large RETRACTED notice across digital papers that have been retracted, leaving them available for download.
    Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 28 June 2026
  • The remote control has mixed reviews, with this seemingly retracting from its otherwise glowing reviews.
    Tantse Walter, Space.com, 26 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Repudiate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/repudiate. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.

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