Vocabulary in context
SAT Vocabulary Workbook
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Renounce
To give up or reject (a claim, right, or position); to abandon.
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Imagine This
During World War II, a city in France has suffered a lot of casualties and is giving up. However, the Germans didn't acknowledge their surrender and kept on bombarding the city. The French kept on re-announcing with a loudspeaker that they were surrendering.
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Sounds Like
ri-NOUNCE (sounds like 're-announce')
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Looks Like
re-announce
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Remember This
Renounce is often used in formal contexts to indicate a deliberate abandonment of a claim, belief, or allegiance (e.g., renouncing citizenship or a throne).
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Other Forms
renouncesverb
renouncedverb
renouncingverb
renouncernoun
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Connect With
disown, forsake, recant, abjure, abdicate, renunciation
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Note
Don't confuse renounce with renown, which means well known and honored.
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Study Deeper
Examples
- The prince decided to renounce his claim to the throne.
- She renounced all belief in magic after the incident, hoping to live a rational life.
Synonyms
disownforswearrecantabjureabdicate
Antonyms
affirmacceptembrace
Etymology
From Old French renoncer, from Latin renuntiare 'to announce again'.
Mnemonic
Re-nounce: the prefix re- suggests taking something back; think of announcing again that you are giving it up.
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Similar Words
Related words and words with the same part of speech.
Abandon
verbTo give up completely, to desert or leave behind, or to relinquish a claim, plan, or responsibility.
Abate
verbTo decrease in amount or intensity; to reduce or end something.
Abolish
verbTo formally end or repeal a system, practice, or institution; to officially put an end to something established.
Abridge
verbTo shorten (a text, speech, or other work) by omitting parts; to condense.
Abscond
verbTo depart secretly or flee, especially to avoid detection or arrest.
Absolve
verbTo free someone from blame or responsibility; to pardon or exonerate.
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