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to resile

to resile

9.9
To withdraw from a promise or agreement, often officially under pressure
  • verb
  • /rɪˈzaɪl/
  • Formal
translation icon : rescindir
  • After much debate, the politician chose to resile from her earlier statements about reforming the healthcare system.

Examples

  • Under pressure from the board, the CEO decided to resile from the company's initial commitment to expand.

  • However, India has not only resiled from its UN obligations but continues to obfuscate on a dialogue under Simla.

    Academic text (1995)
  • Faced with mounting evidence, the organization had no choice but to resile from its previous position on climate change.

Synonyms

to stand down
vsto resile
123 5.1

To stop doing a job, duty or action after someone tells you to

focuses more on leaving a stance or promise under pressure rather than duties
to back down
vsto resile
107 3.7

To stop insisting because others oppose you

matches this but leans more toward formal abandonment under pressure
to withdraw
vsto resile
103 3.7

To take back something you said before, especially in public

covers abandoning promises or positions rather than only taking back words
to revoke
vsto resile
  • Formal
96 6.2

Officially stop something from being valid, for example a license

is similar but emphasizes leaving commitments or positions rather than rules
to renounce
vsto resile
  • Formal
69 6.3

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

matches formal abandonment but centers on promises and pressured withdrawal
to relinquish
vsto resile
  • Formal
69 7.2

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

is similar but stresses withdrawal from promises specifically and under pressure
to back away
vsto resile
59 3.9

Stop supporting or taking part in a plan because you feel unsure

is more about leaving under external pressure rather than internal doubt
to rescind
vsto resile
  • Formal
44 7.9

Officially cancel a law, order, or agreement

focuses more on leaving a promise or position rather than legal annulment
to recant
vsto resile
  • Formal
44 8.6

Say publicly that you no longer believe something you said before

is broader, applying to promises and positions as well as beliefs
to retract
vsto resile
  • Formal
41 6.0

To take back a statement or opinion in public

is about abandoning promises or positions, not only statements or beliefs
to renege
vsto resile
25 8.5

To break a promise or agreement and not do what you said you would do

is close but often stresses formal, pressured abandonment rather than mere failure
to resign
vsto resile
  • Formal
22 3.7

Give up a right or title to something

often involves leaving under pressure rather than voluntary resignation
to renege on
vsto resile
16 7.2

Fail to do something you promised or agreed to

focuses more on formal withdrawal from an agreement under pressure rather than breach
to abjure
vsto resile
  • Formal
3 9.9

To give up a belief or support publicly under pressure

overlaps but is more limited to beliefs and causes than to agreements
to forswear
vsto resile
  • Formal
2 9.6

To promise to give up a belief, habit, or practice

shares formality but targets leaving commitments or positions under pressure
2 3.7

To stop taking part in an agreement you already agreed to

is similar but often implies leaving an agreed role under pressure
to decommit
vsto resile
1 8.4

To officially take back a promise or plan

is nearly identical but can include leaving positions, not only commitments
to abnegate
vsto resile
  • Formal
9.9

To officially give up power, rights, or a position

is close but more about abandoning promises or agreements under duress
to backstep
vsto resile
7.1

Take back a promise or support you gave

is similar but stresses formal or official abandonment under pressure
to crawfish out
vsto resile
  • Informal
9.7

To try to avoid doing something you promised or agreed to do

is more formal and often involves official or pressured withdrawal

Antonyms

87 4.7

Continue to follow and support a rule, belief, or person

How Complete

to abandon
401 3.8
to renege
25 8.5
to resile
  • Formal
9.9
to pull back
162 3.4

Surface Forms

resile infinitive
resiled past
resiled past participle
resiling present participle
resiles third person singular

Morphology

resile = sile (opaque) = re + sile

The sense 'withdraw from a promise' is a metaphorical extension of 'spring back' and cannot be reliably derived by an average learner from the components, especially since 'sile' is not a standalone English word.

Etymology

Resile comes from the Latin parts re- 'back' and salire 'to jump', creating the image of someone 'jumping back' from a position. So, to resile from a promise or agreement is to move 'back' from it, to withdraw or abandon what you once agreed.