to apostatize
1
9.9
- verb
- /əˈpɑːstəˌtaɪz/
- Formal
- After years of questioning his beliefs, he chose to apostatize and join a different religion.
Examples
-
But they have apostatized.
-
We are never privy to any explicit pact in which she apostatizes.
Academic text (2001) -
Give up the faith, apostatize, as you say.
-
Remember this, if you are truly a Christian, you will apostatize and not let them die.
-
As long as you don't apostatize, they can not be saved.
-
Because we told him you apostatized.
-
Lacking the light, humans apostatized.
Academic text (2003) -
They should apostatize!
-
Most horrible to contemplate was the often-expressed fear that Catholic emigrants might apostatize in the New World.
Academic text (1990) -
The Inquisitor promises that if Father Garupe apostatizes.
Synonyms
69
6.3
To give up a right, belief, job, or position officially
41
6.0
To take back a statement or opinion in public
1
9.9
To publicly promise to give up a belief, habit, or claim
To give up long-held beliefs or loyalties in a way that seems weak
Antonyms
How Formal
- Formal
1
9.9
- Formal
69
6.3
401
3.8
∞
1.0
668
1.0
15
4.5
Surface Forms
Morphology
Etymology
Apostatize comes from Greek roots that mean 'stand away'. The apo- part means 'away' and the stasis part means 'a standing', so to apostatize is to 'stand away' from a belief — to formally leave or give up a faith.