repudiate
8 synonyms and 6 antonyms for repudiate, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Verb — To reject a claim, idea or association firmly and publicly, and to state that you want nothing to do with it.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. verb
To reject a claim, idea or association firmly and publicly, and to state that you want nothing to do with it.
“The party moved quickly to repudiate the candidate's remarks.”
Opposites
How to use repudiate
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
repudiate a claim
repudiate the debt
publicly repudiate
repudiate violence
Formal; common in politics, law and journalism.
Etymology
From Latin repudiare "to reject, cast off, divorce", from repudium "divorce, rejection".
Full origin of repudiate →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between repudiate and refute?
To repudiate a claim is to reject it and refuse to be associated with it. To refute it is to prove it false with evidence and argument. Saying "I refute that" when you only mean "I deny that" is one of the most common misuses in English.
What does repudiate mean in a contract?
It means one party makes clear, by words or conduct, that it will not perform its obligations. That gives the other party the right to treat the contract as ended and to sue for damages.
