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Glite Dictionary
👑 To renounce 🚫 To give up
to abnegate

to abnegate

9.9
To officially give up power, rights, or a position
  • verb
  • /ˈæb.nɪ.ɡeɪt/
  • Formal
translation icon : abdicar
  • In her farewell address, she formally abnegated her position as CEO of the company.

Examples

  • She decided to abnegate her claim to the throne.

  • The monarch was pressured to abnegate the throne during the political crisis.

  • After years as chairman, he decided to abnegate his authority and let others lead.

  • Don't abnegate your rights!

  • In her farewell address, she formally abnegated her position as CEO of the company.

  • After years as chairman, he decided to abnegate his authority and let others lead.

  • The monarch was pressured to abnegate the throne during the political crisis.

Synonyms

to surrender
vsto abnegate
722 4.4

To stop fighting and give control or things to someone else, often when forced

is a formal voluntary renunciation of rights or a position
to give up
vsto abnegate
363 2.3

To hand a job or control you have to someone else

is the specific formal act of renouncing power, rights, or position
to release
vsto abnegate
  • Formal
69 2.6

To give up a right, claim, or ownership of something

focuses on formal renunciation of authority or an official position
to renounce
vsto abnegate
  • Formal
69 6.3

To give up a right, belief, job, or position officially

is the same formal giving up focused on power or position
to relinquish
vsto abnegate
  • Formal
69 7.2

To give up control, a right, or something you own

is similar but stresses formal renunciation of authority or rights
to leave office
vsto abnegate
  • Literature
53 4.2

Stop being a leader with official power, for example a government official or company boss

emphasizes formal renunciation rather than routine career exit
to cede
vsto abnegate
  • Formal
39 8.2

To officially give control, ownership or rights to someone else

is about giving up status or rights, not necessarily transferring them
to abdicate
vsto abnegate
  • Formal
23 8.0

To give up a position of power, for example a king or queen

is formal renunciation of power or rights by an individual
to resign
vsto abnegate
  • Formal
22 3.7

Give up a right or title to something

is about formally renouncing authority or rights rather than routine departure
to concede
vsto abnegate
13 5.5

To give something to another person or group against your will

is a formal voluntary renunciation rather than reluctant concession
to resile
vsto abnegate
  • Formal
9.9

To withdraw from a promise or agreement, often officially under pressure

is formal giving up of power or rights not necessarily under pressure

Antonyms

to claim
588 3.4

To ask for and receive something you have a right to, like lost baggage

to assume
77 5.7

Take control of a group or position without proper authority

How Formal

to abdicate
  • Formal
23 8.0
to abnegate
  • Formal
9.9
to renounce
  • Formal
69 6.3
to resign
  • Formal
533 3.7
to give up
∞ 1.2

Surface Forms

abnegate infinitive
abnegated past
abnegated past participle
abnegating present participle
abnegates third person singular

Morphology

abnegate = negate (semi-transparent) = ab + negate

Formally analyzable as 'ab-' + 'negate', but the prefix 'ab-' and the formal sense of renouncing rights or position is somewhat specialized and not fully predictable for all learners.

Etymology

Abnegate comes from the Latin parts ab- 'away' and negare 'to say no'. In formal use it means to refuse or give up power, rights, or a job, as if you are 'saying no' to that position. That's why a leader who abnegates a throne or role formally gives it up.