repudiate

[ ri-pyoo-dee-eyt ]

verb (used with object)

, re·pu·di·at·ed, re·pu·di·at·ing.

1. to reject as having no authority or binding force:

   to repudiate a claim.

   Synonyms: disclaim, discard, disavow

   Antonyms: accept

2. to cast off or disown:

   to repudiate a son.

3. to reject with disapproval or condemnation:

   to repudiate a new doctrine.

   Synonyms: disapprove, condemn, disown, renounce

   Antonyms: approve

4. to reject with denial:

   to repudiate a charge as untrue.

5. to refuse to acknowledge and pay (a debt), as a state, municipality, etc.

repudiate

/ rɪˈpjuːdɪˌeɪt /

verb

1. to reject the authority or validity of; refuse to accept or ratify

   Congress repudiated the treaty that the President had negotiated

2. to refuse to acknowledge or pay (a debt)
3. to cast off or disown (a son, lover, etc)

Derived Forms

• reˈpudiative, adjective
• reˌpudiˈation, noun
• reˈpudiable, adjective
• reˈpudiˌator, noun

Other Words From

• re·pudi·a·ble adjective
• re·pudi·ative adjective
• re·pudi·ator noun
• nonre·pudi·a·ble adjective
• nonre·pudi·ative adjective
• unre·pudi·a·ble adjective
• unre·pudi·ated adjective
• unre·pudi·ative adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of repudiate¹

First recorded in 1535–45; from Latin repudiātus (past participle of repudiāre “to reject, refuse”), equivalent to repudi(um) “a casting off, divorce” ( re- + pud(ere) “to make ashamed, feel shame” + -ium noun suffix ) + -ātus past participle sufffix; re-, pudendum, -ium, -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of repudiate¹

C16: from Latin repudiāre to put away, from repudium a separation, divorce, from re- + pudēre to be ashamed

Example Sentences

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

In 2017, his conviction was reversed after experts repudiated some of their testimony.

From Los Angeles Times

He never repudiated any of those early statements, and Straussians went to some lengths to conceal from critical scholars the more controversial writings in his collected papers.

From Salon

Many Democrats acknowledge Biden now faces a wholly different political reality, even as key parts of his base push him to repudiate border restrictions and compare his move to Trump’s policies as president.

From Seattle Times

In the end, the Age of Trump and this democracy crisis need to be repudiated in the voting booth on Election Day.

From Salon

Related Words

• abandon
• break with
• disavow
• dismiss
• disown
• forsake
• recant
• renounce
• repeal
• rescind
• retract
• reverse
• revoke
• spurn