renege

[ ri-nig, -neg, -neeg ]

/ rɪˈnɪg, -ˈnɛg, -ˈnig /

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See synonyms for: renege / reneging on Thesaurus.com

verb (used without object), re·neged, re·neg·ing.

Cards. to play a card that is not of the suit led when one can follow suit; break a rule of play.

to go back on one's word: He has reneged on his promise.

verb (used with object), re·neged, re·neg·ing.

Archaic. to deny; disown; renounce.

noun

Cards. an act or instance of reneging.

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Origin of renege

1540–50; earlier renegue<Medieval Latin renegāre, equivalent to re-re- + negāre to deny (cf. negative)

OTHER WORDS FROM renege

re·neg·er, noun

Words nearby renege

rendition, rendzina, Renée, renegade, renegado, renege, renegotiable-rate mortgage, renegotiate, renew, renewable, renewable energy

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use renege in a sentence

Dubowitz, however, says he is concerned Moscow could renege on its promise not to sell Iran the S-300.
Russia’s Ace in the Hole: a Super-Missile It Can Sell to Iran|Eli Lake|April 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Will Syria collapse or Egypt renege on the Camp David Accords?
Yair Lapid and the Peace Process|Geoffrey Levin|April 25, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger convinced Reagan to renege on his support for these cuts, so they never happened.
Reagan’s Deal With Democrats for Tax Increases Paired With Spending Cuts Is a Myth|John M. Barry|December 5, 2012|DAILY BEAST
I treated them two or three times and never once did they renege.
Journeys and Experiences in Argentina, Paraguay, and Chile|Henry Stephens

The manager was afraid that I would renege on my contract after all the free advertising, but he didn't know me.
Side Show Studies|Francis Metcalfe
It occurred to him that he could agree now to join forces with Charles, then go back to Gobignon and renege on his promise.
The Saracen: The Holy War|Robert Shea
"You've never seen the day when you wanted to renege, Upton, and you know it," he hit back.
The Wreckers|Francis Lynde

British Dictionary definitions for renege

renege

renegue

/ (rɪˈniːɡ, -ˈneɪɡ) /

verb

(intr often foll by on) to go back (on one's promise, etc)

verb, noun

cards other words for revoke

Derived forms of renege

reneger or reneguer, noun

Word Origin for renege

C16 (in the sense: to deny, renounce): from Medieval Latin renegāre to renounce; see renegade

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

renege

Origin of renege

OTHER WORDS FROM renege

Words nearby renege

Words related to renege

How to use renege in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for renege

renegue

Derived forms of renege

Word Origin for renege