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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 Some of those decisions aligned with some unitary executive claims, but others directly repudiated them. — Graham G. Dodds, The Conversation, 30 June 2026 How refreshing to have a MAGA insider repudiate the lies. — Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2026 In his encyclical, Leo also made one of the clearest statements yet from a pope repudiating the just war theory, a doctrine the Church has used since at least the fifth century to evaluate global conflicts. — Joshua McElwee, USA Today, 25 May 2026 To exclude the Ute Indian Tribe from access and recognition where those rights and practices endure compounds historical harm and repudiates the very text of the Agreement the State purports to respect. — Shaun Chapoose, Denver Post, 20 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for repudiate

Recent Examples of Synonyms for repudiate

Verb

In the settlement agreement, the companies denied any wrongdoing.

— AJ Willingham, AJC.com, 12 Aug. 2026
Ted doesn’t try to deny this, then presses on anyway with a smile.

— Keith Phipps, Vulture, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of deny

Verb

But the other main parties called it a stunt and refused to take part, leaving Farage running against an assortment of independents, jokers and single-issue candidates led by Count Binface, a comic space alien with a trash can on his head.

— ABC News, ABC News, 11 Aug. 2026
Despite this, Miller has refused to drop out, holding out past the Monday deadline for Ohio Republicans to nominate a new candidate.

— Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of refuse

Verb

Their virality comes at a time when the very generation that inspired them has largely renounced the label.

— Margaux MacColl, Vanity Fair, 11 Aug. 2026
In these photographs, the maternal body enters spaces designed around seduction, aspiration, and idealized femininity without renouncing any of them.

— Alessia Glaviano, Vogue, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of renounce

Verb

Vorbe, his family and lawyers vehemently refute the accusation.

— Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 30 July 2026
Fauci’s decision to shield himself by staying silent gave Republicans free rein to attack him and his response to the COVID-19 pandemic without anyone to refute their statements.

— Joey Garrison, USA Today, 29 July 2026

Definition of refute

Verb

Farage did not give a victory speech after declining to attend the declaration, claiming police had warned of a campaign to disrupt it.

— Reagan Yip, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026
And the university, which declined an interview request about the new program, is not the first to offer content creation courses.

— ABC News, ABC News, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of decline

Verb

James Bord, the professional poker player and owner of Scottish club Dunfermline Athletic, had initially been named the preferred bidder by administrators on Christmas Eve, only to withdraw from the process in late February.

— Philip Buckingham, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026
But the county withdrew from consideration over zoning issues.

— David Lyons, Sun Sentinel, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of withdraw

Verb

Rumors swirled about Alito’s retirement plans after NPR published and then retracted an article by reporter Nina Totenberg that Alito would be retiring from his role on the bench at the end of the court’s 2025-26 term.

— Molly Parks, The Washington Examiner, 7 Aug. 2026
The claim of a link stems from an unethical, fraudulent study that was retracted years ago, and its author was stripped of his medical license.

— Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of retract

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republishing

repudiate

repudiated

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“Repudiate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/repudiate. Accessed 16 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of repudiate

verb

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Presidential Gaffes and Flubs

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Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on repudiate

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A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

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Popular in Wordplay

Words from the 'Odyssey'

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Games & Quizzes