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
1
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."
2
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 notesIn 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
Common pairings
repudiate a claim
repudiate the debt
publicly repudiate
repudiate violence
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The party moved quickly to _____ the candidate's remarks.
Etymology
From Latin repudiare "to reject, cast off, divorce", from repudium "divorce, rejection".
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for repudiate
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.
