to resile
1
9.9
- verb
- /rɪˈzaɪl/
- Formal
- 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
146
3.7
To stop insisting because others oppose you
143
5.1
To stop doing a job, duty or action after someone tells you to
111
3.9
Stop supporting or taking part in a plan because you feel unsure
103
3.7
To take back something you said before, especially in public
98
6.2
Officially stop something from being valid, for example a license
70
6.3
To give up a right, belief, job, or position officially
62
7.2
To give up control, a right, or something you own
48
7.9
Officially cancel a law, order, or agreement
44
8.6
Say publicly that you no longer believe something you said before
41
6.0
To take back a statement or opinion in public
25
8.5
To break a promise or agreement and not do what you said you would do
17
7.2
Fail to do something you promised or agreed to
6
9.6
To promise to give up a belief, habit, or practice
6
3.7
Give up a right or title to something
4
3.7
To stop taking part in an agreement you already agreed to
3
9.9
To give up a belief or support publicly under pressure
1
8.4
To officially take back a promise or plan
1
7.1
Take back a promise or support you gave
1
9.9
To officially give up power, rights, or a position
1
9.7
To try to avoid doing something you promised or agreed to do
Antonyms
How Complete
Surface Forms
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.