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apostasy

apostasy

12 9.9
A decision to stop believing in a religion or a cause you once followed
  • noun
  • /əˈpɑːstəsi/
  • Formal
translation icon : apostasía
  • So she regards skepticism as apostasy, hesitation as heresy, and doubt as moral turpitude.
  • commit apostasy
  • apostasy and heresy
  • apostasy and blasphemy

Well, the penalty for apostasy is death.

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Examples

  • Marvelous sound bite, but clearly he knows nothing about what "apostasy" actually involves.

    Blog text (30)
  • Having a Christmas tree, for instance, would have been viewed as but one step short of apostasy.

    Academic text (1992)
  • Only when the Times piece appeared did his apostasy become well known.

    Academic text (2010)
  • Well, the penalty for apostasy is death.

  • And the Lord's bore witness to this apostasy.

  • Let's not fall into this apostasy of losing our zeal and our faith.

    Blog text (15)
  • The performance of apostasy, however, was clearly important to both the confessor and the confessing party.

    Academic text (2018)
  • However, the punishment for assaulting religion through an act of apostasy does not contradict personal freedom.

    Blog text (17)
  • Should we expect a time of great tribulation and apostasy or revival and reformation before the Lord returns?

    Blog text (27)
  • His public declaration of apostasy shocked the religious community.

Synonyms

defection
vsapostasy
28 7.9

Leaving a country, group, or cause to join an opposing one

is renouncing belief specifically rather than physically leaving to an opponent
abnegation
vsapostasy
  • Formal
4 9.9

To give up a belief for moral or religious reasons

is abandoning belief rather than denying or voluntarily rejecting practices
renunciation
vsapostasy
  • Formal
2 8.9

An official act of rejecting a belief, faith, or way of life

is leaving belief broadly, not always to support an opposing cause
renouncement
vsapostasy
  • Formal
1 8.9

To give up a right, title, or claim in a formal way

is about leaving beliefs, not about legal claims or physical possessions
abjuration
vsapostasy
  • Formal
9.9

An official public rejection of a belief or earlier statement

is a private or general abandonment of belief rather than a formal declaration
tergiversation
vsapostasy
  • Formal
9.9

Abandoning a group or cause for personal gain

is leaving belief more generally, not necessarily for selfish motives

Antonyms

39 3.9

Strong commitment to a cause or activity

14 2.0

The state of being loyal and true to someone, like a friend or pet

How Final

apostasy
  • Formal
12 9.9
renunciation
  • Formal
2 8.9
recantation
  • Formal
2 9.0
rejection
180 3.0

Surface Forms

apostasy singular
apostacies plural

Etymology

Apostasy comes from Greek parts apo- 'away' and stasis 'standing'. So it gives the image of someone 'standing away' from their faith or belief, which is why apostasy means abandoning or giving up a religion or strong belief.