renounce

[ ri-nouns ]

verb (used with object)

, re·nounced, re·nounc·ing.

1. to give up or put aside voluntarily:

   to renounce worldly pleasures.

   Synonyms: quit, leave, forswear, forgo, forsake

   Antonyms: claim

2. to give up by formal declaration:

   to renounce a claim.

   Synonyms: abdicate, resign

3. to repudiate; disown:

   to renounce one's son.

   Synonyms: deny, disavow, reject, disclaim

   Antonyms: accept

verb (used without object)

, re·nounced, re·nounc·ing.

1. Cards.
   1. to play a card of a different suit from that led.
   2. to abandon or give up a suit led.
   3. to fail to follow the suit led.

noun

1. Cards. an act or instance of renouncing.

renounce

/ rɪˈnaʊns /

verb

1. tr to give up (a claim or right), esp by formal announcement

   to renounce a title

2. tr to repudiate

   to renounce Christianity

3. tr to give up (some habit, pursuit, etc) voluntarily

   to renounce smoking

4. intr cards to fail to follow suit because one has no cards of the suit led

noun

1. rare.
   a failure to follow suit in a card game

Derived Forms

• reˈnouncer, noun
• reˈnouncement, noun

Other Words From

• re·nouncea·ble re·nun·ci·a·ble [r, uh, -, nuhn, -see-, uh, -b, uh, l, -shee-], adjective
• re·nouncement noun
• re·nouncer noun
• nonre·nouncing adjective
• self-re·nounced adjective
• self-re·nouncement noun
• self-re·nouncing adjective
• unre·nouncea·ble adjective
• unre·nounced adjective
• unre·nouncing adjective
• unre·nunci·a·ble adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of renounce¹

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English renouncen, from Middle French renoncer, from Latin renūntiāre “to bring back word, disclaim,” equivalent to re- re- + nūntiāre “to announce,” derivative of nūntius “messenger, news”

Word History and Origins

Origin of renounce¹

C14: from Old French renoncer , from Latin renuntiāre to disclaim, from re- + nuntiāre to announce, from nuntius messenger

Synonym Study

See abandon.

Example Sentences

While the UK's move to renounce claims to the Chagos Islands has received praise internationally, including from the US, critics say it could embolden governments which claim sovereignty over other British Overseas Territories.

From BBC

He said Syracuse University was “championing facilitated communication over clear and established science,” and implored it to “renounce and repudiate” the technique for its “dangerous harms.”

From BBC

I would like to imagine there are two presidential candidates who intrinsically and emphatically understand the need to renounce violence, but we know there is only one.

From Salon

“Now is the time for every American who loves our country to step back from the division, renounce all violence, and unite in prayer for President Trump and his family,” Kennedy Jr. said on X, formerly known as Twitter.

From Los Angeles Times

A new frontier has opened in fashion’s fur wars, as protesters targeted the homes of more than a dozen employees of Marc Jacobs in recent months, using signs, noisemakers and fake blood in an effort to force the designer to officially renounce the use of fur in his collections.

From New York Times

Related Words

• deny
• disavow
• discard
• disown
• eschew
• forgo
• forsake
• forswear
• give up
• quit
• recant
• relinquish
• repudiate
• spurn
• waive