repudiate

[ ri-pyoo-dee-eyt ]
See synonyms for: repudiaterepudiatedrepudiating on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object),re·pu·di·at·ed, re·pu·di·at·ing.
  1. to reject as having no authority or binding force: to repudiate a claim.

  2. to cast off or disown: to repudiate a son.

  1. to reject with disapproval or condemnation: to repudiate a new doctrine.

  2. to reject with denial: to repudiate a charge as untrue.

  3. to refuse to acknowledge and pay (a debt), as a state, municipality, etc.

Origin of repudiate

1
First recorded in 1535–45; from Latin repudiātus (past participle of repudiāre “to reject, refuse”), equivalent to repudi(um) “a casting off, divorce” (re- + pud(ere) “to make ashamed, feel shame” + -ium noun suffix ) + -ātus past participle sufffix; see re-, pudendum, -ium, -ate1

Other words for repudiate

Opposites for repudiate

Other words from repudiate

  • re·pu·di·a·ble, adjective
  • re·pu·di·a·tive, adjective
  • re·pu·di·a·tor, noun
  • non·re·pu·di·a·ble, adjective
  • non·re·pu·di·a·tive, adjective
  • un·re·pu·di·a·ble, adjective
  • un·re·pu·di·at·ed, adjective
  • un·re·pu·di·a·tive, adjective

Words that may be confused with repudiate

Words Nearby repudiate

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use repudiate in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for repudiate

repudiate

/ (rɪˈpjuːdɪˌeɪt) /


verb(tr)
  1. to reject the authority or validity of; refuse to accept or ratify: Congress repudiated the treaty that the President had negotiated

  2. to refuse to acknowledge or pay (a debt)

  1. to cast off or disown (a son, lover, etc)

Origin of repudiate

1
C16: from Latin repudiāre to put away, from repudium a separation, divorce, from re- + pudēre to be ashamed

Derived forms of repudiate

  • repudiable, adjective
  • repudiation, noun
  • repudiative, adjective
  • repudiator, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012