verb

repudiate

ri-PYOO-dee-ayt

Repudiate (verb) means to reject a claim, idea or association firmly and publicly, and to state that you want nothing to do with it. Example: “The party moved quickly to repudiate the candidate's remarks.”

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."

"She repudiated any suggestion that she had known about the payments."

legal To refuse to honour or be bound by a contract, agreement or debt.

"The government repudiated the loans taken out by the previous regime."

How to use repudiate

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo publicly reject something and refuse to have anything to do with it.

When to use it

Formal; common in politics, law and journalism.

Memory tip

The noun is repudiation. The adjective repudiated describes the thing rejected, not the person rejecting it.

Trace the full origin ↓

Easily confused with

refute → rebut → renounce → repute →

Common pairings

repudiate a claim repudiate the debt publicly repudiate repudiate violence

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Can you complete this real example?

The party moved quickly to _____ the candidate's remarks.

Etymology

From Latin repudiare "to reject, cast off, divorce", from repudium "divorce, rejection".

Origin: Latin

Synonyms

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reject disown renounce disavow denounce renege on default on abrogate

Antonyms

endorse embrace accept acknowledge honour uphold

Related words

back own thank believe include respect choose agree

Rhymes for repudiate

ate date rate mate fate abate slate plate state grate create update

See all rhymes for 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.

What is the meaning of repudiate?

"repudiate" (verb) means to reject a claim, idea or association firmly and publicly, and to state that you want nothing to do with it.

What is another word for repudiate?

Other words for "repudiate" include reject, disown, renounce, disavow, denounce, renege on.

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back own thank believe include respect choose agree